A minimal seventeen percent of East Germans have faith in their government
The civil service union dbb has reported a record low trust in the state's ability to act, according to their 2025 public service citizen survey. A staggering 75% of citizens nationwide have low trust in the state's capacity to handle its tasks and issues.
The survey reveals that asylum and refugee policy is considered the most challenging area for the state, with 30% of respondents believing the system is overwhelmed. Schools/education and social security and pensions follow closely behind, each accounting for 15% and 16% of those who perceive the state as struggling, respectively. Internal security and healthcare are also cited as challenging areas by 12% and 11% of respondents.
The current German government faces the urgent task of significantly improving the Bundeswehr and modernizing the country's deteriorated infrastructure. However, public skepticism about the government's capability to manage these transformative economic and social tasks is high. A substantial increase in public debt is planned for higher defense and investment expenditures, yet doubts remain about the government's readiness for these changes, with 62% of Germans expressing doubts about the country's readiness for upcoming transformations.
The government's efforts to implement inclusive education, as required by the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, also represent a major area where the government is struggling to meet obligations efficiently.
In a bid to address these concerns, dbb chairman Volker Geyer has called for a debate on the tasks the state can still fulfill in the future. He warns against hostility towards public service employees, stating that loss of respect can sometimes lead to hate and violence. Geyer also emphasises the need for clearer definitions of individual bodies' responsibilities and faster processing times.
The survey also indicates that 66% of citizens suggest more online services for administrative bodies, while 85% suggest fewer regulations. Moreover, 58% of citizens suggest clearer definitions of individual bodies' responsibilities.
Interestingly, supporters of the SPD and Greens have more than 40% trust in the state, while those of the Union and AfD have around 33% each. This trust gap is more pronounced in Eastern Germany, where only 17% believe the state capable of fulfilling its tasks, compared to 24% in the West.
Volker Geyer believes the discussion on the state's future tasks is unavoidable due to tight budgets and an "increasingly dramatic" shortage of staff. He states that if the plans of the Union and SPD do not reach the people's everyday life, the unchecked decline in trust will result in a very hard landing.
However, 70% of citizens think that the change of government will not significantly affect the state's performance. This suggests a need for the government to not only address the concerns of the citizens but also to communicate its plans and actions effectively to regain trust.
