ARD Germany trend: Delivery of heavy weapons controversial

As of: 04/28/2022 6:00 p.m

Heavy weapons for Ukraine? The Germans are loud on this question ARDGermanyTrend at odds However, a majority is in favor of toughness towards Russia. The values ​​of the chancellor deteriorate significantly.

The Bundestag has said yes to the delivery of heavy weapons to Ukraine – but the Germans are divided on the issue: 45 percent are in favor and just as many – also 45 percent – are against. A representative survey by infratest dimap for the ARD– Germany trend, which was carried out from Monday to Wednesday.

Clear advocates can only be found in the ranks of the FDP (70:25 percent) and the Greens (67:25 percent). A good half of Union supporters agree (53 percent), but 42 percent object. The supporters of the SPD are deeply divided (45:46 percent). The AfD voters are clearly negative (12:84 percent).

During the survey period, the supply of heavy weapons was discussed intensively. As recently as Monday, SPD leader Saskia Esken refused to allow German industry to supply tanks to Ukraine. On Tuesday, Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) announced at the start of the Ukraine conference convened by the USA at the Ramstein air base that the federal government would now enable the delivery of “Gepard” anti-aircraft tanks.

Majority for toughness towards Russia

Behind the discussion about arms deliveries is always the question of how Germany’s actions could be interpreted by Russia. After all, politicians, regardless of whether they are in the government or in the opposition, keep emphasizing that under no circumstances should Germany become a party to the war.

The Germans take a differentiated view of the fundamental question of military aid for Ukraine. When asked which of the two positions they would rather support, 52 percent said: The federal government should act more decisively in order to show toughness towards Russia. 40 percent, on the other hand, advocated that the federal government should be more cautious so as not to provoke Russia.

Majority in favor of phasing out Russian energy imports

As for sanctions against Russia, 45 percent of respondents think they don’t go far enough, 34 percent think they’re appropriate, and 14 percent think they go too far. In concrete terms, how Germany should deal with Russian energy supplies is still being discussed. Only one in five supports an immediate ban on imports of oil and gas.

A majority of 54 percent is in favor of a gradual phasing out of energy imports in the coming years. One in five would even like to continue to supply Russian oil and gas – including about twice as many East Germans as West Germans.

No agreement on the Ukraine course

Overall, there is no consensus among the population on the government’s course in the Ukraine war. Accordingly, for a good third of those surveyed – 36 percent, one point less than at the beginning of April – the policy of the traffic light coalition since the Russian invasion is appropriate. For 41 percent (-4) the reaction of the federal government does not go far enough, for one in seven (15 percent; +4) it already goes too far.

There are different assessments in the ranks of the coalition parties on this question. More than half of the SPD supporters (53 percent) consider the current government course to be appropriate. In contrast, among the voters of the Greens (54 percent) and FDP (57 percent), the demand for further steps prevails.

Almost half (48 percent) of Union supporters favor a stronger response from Germany, while four in ten (39 percent) support the government’s Ukraine policy. Every second AfD supporter (47 percent) rejects the Berlin government course in the Ukraine conflict as excessive.

Appropriate support for refugees

With regard to other aspects, the majority of those surveyed rated the reception and support of Ukrainian refugees in Germany as appropriate (75 percent) and also the financial aid for Ukraine (59 percent).

Germans are less unanimous about Germany’s diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict, which four in ten see as appropriate (41 percent), but just as many (42 percent) criticize as insufficient.

Majority takes a critical look at Scholz’s work

The work of Chancellor Olaf Scholz is viewed critically by a majority. Only 39 percent are currently satisfied with his work, his lowest figure since he took over the chancellorship. At the same time, the actions of the Federal Chancellor appear prudent to a majority, but also unconvincing in terms of communication. Currently, 64 percent of those surveyed think that the chancellor is acting prudently.

Last September, however, two-thirds of those surveyed were sure that Scholz was up to the job of Chancellor, now 47 percent (-19) come to this conclusion. Instead of six out of ten then, 37 percent now believe that Scholz can lead the country well through crises.

For just over one in four (27 percent), the chancellor is currently communicating convincingly. His personal course in the Ukraine war is currently popular with every third person (33 percent).

Habeck and Baerbock’s work is rated more positively

On the other hand, two members of the Greens cabinet in particular are rated significantly more positively: a majority is satisfied with the work of Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (56 percent; +3) and the work of Vice Chancellor and Economics Minister Robert Habeck (56 percent; +2). These are also personal best values ​​for the two politicians in the ARD– Germany Trend.

However, the verdict for the work of the entire federal government is critical: 41 percent (-6 points compared to the beginning of the month) of those eligible to vote are currently satisfied, a majority of 57 percent (+6) is dissatisfied.

The individual alliance partners are evaluated somewhat differently. The Greens convince 43 percent with their work in the federal government, while the Social Democrats convince 37 percent and the Liberals 36 percent.

Hardly any movement in the Sunday question

All in all, there are only a few changes in the Sunday question. At the beginning of the month, the Union improved slightly to 26 percent (+1), the SPD had an unchanged 24 percent prospect. The Greens lose slightly and could count on 18 percent (-1), AfD and FDP still with eleven and nine percent respectively.

At three percent (-1), the left is even weaker than at the beginning of the month. This is their worst reading since the merger of the PDS and WASG in ARD– Germany Trend.

investigation facility

Universe: Eligible voters in Germany
Collection method: Random telephone* and online survey
*of which 60 percent landline, 40 percent mobile
Survey period: April 25-27, 2022
Number of cases: 1.314 respondents (859 telephone interviews and 455 online interviews)

Weighting: according to sociodemographic characteristics and
Voting behavior recall
fluctuation range: 2* to 3** percentage points
* with a share value of 10 percent ** with a share value of 50 percent

Implementing institute: infratest dimap

Results are rounded to whole percentages to avoid false expectations of precision. Because for all representative surveys, fluctuation ranges must be taken into account. In the case of a survey with 1000 respondents, these amount to around three percentage points for large parties and around one point for smaller parties. In addition, the rounding error is significant for small parties. For these reasons, no party below three percent is shown in the Sunday question.

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