ARD Germany trend: only a minority wants relief for everyone

The proposals to relieve the burden on citizens that have been discussed in the past few days can be found in the ARD Germany trend broad agreement. However, there are different views as to who should benefit.

It is the domestic political issue: dealing with rising energy prices and the cost of living. This was discussed at the cabinet meeting at Schloss Meseberg, and details of the third relief package are now being worked out.

Almost every second person (45 percent) would like middle-income households to be relieved. 29 percent believe that relief should only be given to people with low incomes. A good one in five (22 percent), on the other hand, is of the opinion that relief should benefit all households.

The party-political differences are particularly evident when it comes to the question of whether only low incomes should be relieved or all incomes: While 43 percent of the Greens supporters only demand relief for people with low incomes, only 20 percent of the FDP supporters do. On the other hand, 32 percent of the FDP supporters say that all households should benefit from the relief, but only eight percent of the Greens supporters.

High approval of discharge proposals

Most of the proposals discussed in the past few days have been approved by the majority of citizens: four out of five eligible voters (81 percent) support direct payments for people with low and medium incomes, families, pensioners, students, trainees and recipients of unemployment benefits, while 14 percent reject them.

An increase in housing benefit for low-income earners and an increase in the number of people entitled to receive it would be right for 72 percent, while one in five (20 percent) would find it wrong. Almost two-thirds (64 percent) are in favor of increasing and expanding the so-called commuter allowance, while 28 percent are against it.

Large majority for follow-up offer for a 9-euro ticket

A follow-up offer for the 9-euro ticket, which was available in June, July and August, is also currently being discussed: 74 percent consider this measure to be correct, 22 percent reject it.

For the previous price of nine euros per month, two thirds (67 percent) of those entitled to vote in Germany would also use such an offer themselves. For a maximum of 29 euros per month, 59 percent would use it themselves, for a maximum of 49 euros it would be 26 percent and for a maximum price of 69 euros five percent of those surveyed would use it according to their own statements. 31 percent of those surveyed stated that such a ticket for nationwide use of local and regional transport was out of the question for them.

Three quarters support gas and electricity price brakes

At the weekend, the SPD called for a gas and electricity price brake in a paper. This means that the state intervenes in the energy market and caps the prices for basic electricity and gas requirements in Germany. 75 percent of those surveyed support such a price brake – only 17 percent would find it wrong.

There are hardly any differences between the supporters of the various parties: The gas price brake gets the highest approval from left-wing supporters (93 percent), the lowest approval from AfD supporters with still 69 percent, who are in favor of capping electricity and gas prices pronounce in Germany.

Majority continues to support Russia sanctions

One reason for the increased prices are the sanctions against Russia due to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. Currently, a majority (53 percent) supports the sanctions against Russia, even if this increases energy prices and the cost of living. But support for this attitude is decreasing: in March 2022, 66 percent were still positioned in this way – today it is 13 percentage points less. On the other hand, 41 percent do not support the sanctions if they increase energy prices and the cost of living.

Here, however, there are big differences among the supporters of the parties: while 90 percent of the Greens supporters think the sanctions against Russia are correct, even if they increase energy prices and the cost of living, the figure is only nine percent for the AfD. Among SPD supporters, 72 percent support the sanctions even with rising energy prices and living costs, among CDU/CSU supporters 62 percent and among FDP supporters 58 percent. Among supporters of the left, it is 43 percent.

Overall, 54 percent of Germans entitled to vote think the sanctions are right, even if they result in bottlenecks in the energy supply (March 2022: 68 percent), and 53 percent support the sanctions, even if German companies and businesses suffer as a result (March 2022: 65 percent). Percent).

Satisfaction with the federal government at a record low

Dissatisfaction with the federal government has grown over the past month. Seven out of ten Germans (68 percent) are currently less or not at all satisfied with the work of the SPD, Greens and FDP – five points more than in the previous month. Only 31 percent are very satisfied or satisfied with the work of the traffic light coalition (-5). Satisfaction with the government is thus at its lowest level for the previous term of office.

If there were a federal election next Sunday, the SPD would currently have 17 percent – no change compared to the previous month. Union and Greens each lose one point and come to 27 and 22 percent respectively. The FDP improves by one point and ends up at eight percent. The AfD remains unchanged at 13 percent. The left improves by one point and reaches five percent; all other parties together achieve eight percent.

SPD loses factual political confidence

Almost a year has passed since the 2021 federal election. Since then, Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s party has lost the standing of those eligible to vote in policy areas that are particularly relevant at the moment. Germans continue to believe that the SPD is most likely to ensure social justice. However, 28 percent means a minus of twelve points compared to before the federal election.

When it comes to social justice, 13 percent see the Union ahead (-2), twelve percent the Greens (+5), ten percent the left (-1). The Germans also trust the SPD in particular to have a good health policy. But 26 percent means a drop of seven points compared to a year ago. The Union follows with 21 percent (-3) and the Greens with ten percent (+1).

Greens score in foreign policy competence

The Greens achieve by far the greatest value in terms of party competences with their core issue, climate and environmental policy. In this field, 47 percent believe they are most capable of pursuing good policies (-1).

In foreign policy, too, the party of the responsible minister, Annalena Baerbock, gained in standing last year. 25 percent see the Greens as having the greatest competence here (+20). 23 percent are most likely to trust the Union to conduct a good foreign policy (-9), 14 percent the SPD (-17).

Union ahead in economic competence

When it comes to driving the economy in Germany forward, a relative majority still sees the CDU/CSU ahead: 31 percent see it as having the greatest competence (-1). The SPD follow with 14 percent (-11), the FDP with 13 percent (-3) and only then the Greens of Economics Minister Robert Habeck with seven percent (+1).

No party is completely convincing when it comes to tax policy: the Union is ahead with 20 percent (-1), ahead of the SPD with 19 percent (-12) and the FDP with 15 percent (+1). However: 28 percent say that they do not trust any party to solve this political task.