A mere seventeen percent of East Germans express trust in their government.
The German civil service federation (dbb) has recently presented its 2025 public service citizen survey, revealing a record low in trust for the state. According to the survey, three out of four German citizens believe the state is overwhelmed by its tasks and problems.
In the survey, citizens cited asylum and refugee policy, social security and pensions, schools and education, taxes and finances, internal security, and healthcare as the main areas where they believe the state is struggling. This has led Volker Geyer, chairman of the dbb, to call for a debate on which tasks the state should still fulfill in the future.
Geyer warned that the loss of respect for public service employees could escalate to hate and violence in extreme cases. He emphasized the need for a discussion on the state's role, particularly in light of the recent incidents where drivers of buses and trams have been hindered, harassed, insulted, or attacked.
Despite the concerns, the survey also indicates that Germans have faith in the potential improvements in government agencies. Sixty-six percent of Germans believe that government agencies could improve by offering more online services, while 58% believe that clear regulation of individual agencies' responsibilities would help. Additionally, 79% of Germans believe that government agencies could improve by having shorter processing times.
The survey also revealed a divide in trust levels based on education and region. Those with a primary school education trust the state only 16% of the time, compared to 29% of those with a university degree. In eastern Germany, only 17% believe the state can fulfill its tasks, compared to 24% in the west.
Interestingly, the survey shows a split in political affiliation when it comes to trust in the state. Supporters of the SPD and Greens have more than 40% trust in the state, while those of the Union and Left have around one-third, and those of the AfD have only 4%.
In a surprising turn of events, one in five Germans believe the current black-red federal government will strengthen the state's performance more than the previous government of SPD, Greens, and FDP. However, 70% of Germans believe that the change of government will not significantly change the state's performance.
On a lighter note, the sports scene in Germany also made headlines. The Stuttgart Kickers, a German football club, have made it to the WFV Cup quarterfinals, barely making it against Weilimdorf. Meanwhile, VfB Stuttgart's match showed a score of 1:3 in the live ticker. Loris Maier has shortened the score for Stuttgart, but the team is yet to recover.
These findings and developments highlight the complex and multifaceted nature of the relationship between the German public and their government, as well as the ongoing challenges faced by public service employees in various sectors.
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