ARD Germany trend: 63 percent for the SPD-led government

A majority of Germans would like an SPD-led federal government. A coalition of the SPD, Greens and FDP is positive for 53 percent. An alliance of the Union, the Greens and the FDP is much less popular.

If you ask the Germans who they think should lead the next federal government, almost two thirds are in favor of the SPD (63 percent). Only a quarter would like the coming federal government to be led by the Union.

One possibility of organizing a government under SPD leadership would be the traffic light coalition – an alliance of the SPD, the Greens and the FDP. A slim majority of 53 percent of citizens think such a coalition is very good or good. 43 percent, on the other hand, find the traffic light less good or bad.

25 percent for Jamaica

In comparison, the view of the Germans on the so-called Jamaica coalition: An alliance of the Union, the Greens and the FDP is rated much more critically. Only 25 percent think such an alliance is good. 70 percent, on the other hand, think Jamaica is currently less good or bad. For comparison: In October 2017, when such an alliance was first explored, a majority of 57 percent voted for a Jamaica coalition.

Among the party supporters, it is only the Union supporters, the majority in favor of Jamaica (63 percent). Most of the other party supporters are skeptical of the alliance, including 53 percent of the FDP supporters.

Green supporters particularly skeptical

The supporters of the Greens are particularly skeptical of a possible Jamaica coalition: 62 percent are of the opinion that joining a Union-led government with the liberals would damage their party in the long term. If you look at the total number of eligible voters, one in two (49 percent) says that such an alliance would harm the Greens – only 29 percent see advantages in such a coalition.

The FDP’s entry into a possible traffic light coalition, on the other hand, is rated more positively for the party: 47 percent of Germans and 48 percent of FDP supporters believe that such an alliance is more useful to the liberals in the long term. Only 32 percent of Germans and 35 percent of FDP supporters fear disadvantages for the party.

When asked who would be a good chancellor for Germany, the picture is clear: 63 percent are of the opinion that Olaf Scholz would be a good chancellor – 25 percent see it differently. Only 14 percent of Armin Laschet are currently saying this – a clear majority of 78 percent believe that he would not be a good Federal Chancellor.

74 percent for raising the minimum wage

During the explorations or coalition talks, it could be difficult, especially with labor market, transport and tax policy. The election programs of the SPD and the Greens provide for an increase in the minimum wage to 12 euros. The FDP sees it differently and refers to the statutory regular adjustment of the minimum wage.

Three quarters (74 percent) of those surveyed are currently in favor of raising the minimum wage to 12 euros. On the other hand, 21 percent believe that such an increase would jeopardize too many jobs.

The population is more divided when it comes to the introduction of a general speed limit of 130 km / h on motorways – which the SPD and the Greens are in favor of, but the FDP rejects. 53 percent of citizens support the introduction, 44 percent reject it.

Majority for tax increases for individual groups

The tax policy also offers potential for conflict: The FDP wants to relieve all citizens of tax, while the SPD and the Greens are demanding a wealth tax and want to ask for higher incomes to pay more.

The question in the GermanyTrend read: Should taxes not be increased in principle or do you advocate tax increases for individual groups? Currently, a majority of 57 percent would support tax increases for individual groups. 39 percent, on the other hand, want tax increases to be dispensed with as a matter of principle.

Concern about corona infections is falling

Citizens are more relaxed about the corona situation this autumn than they were in summer: 42 percent of Germans are currently concerned that the number of corona infections in Germany will rise significantly in the coming weeks. Last July, this was still a majority of 62 percent.

The support for the current Corona rules have hardly changed compared to June of this year. As at the beginning of summer, six out of ten respondents (60 percent) currently describe the existing corona measures as generally appropriate. For 13 percent, they do not go far enough; every fourth respondent (25 percent) continues to describe them as too far.

Majority for the abolition of the mask requirement in the classroom

While schoolchildren in Bavaria are already allowed to study without masks in the classroom again and in Baden-Württemberg the mask requirement will soon be dropped in school lessons, in other federal states there are still discussions about the abolition or retention of this measure in the fight against the corona virus.

Only four out of ten Germans (37 percent) and only 27 percent of parents of school-age children are currently in favor of maintaining the mask requirement in class. A majority of 57 percent is of the opinion that the mask requirement should be abolished – for parents with school-age children, the figure is 71 percent.