Some 94% of Germans believe that the country’s statutory pensions system will face ‘major’ or ‘very major’ problems in the future, with just 5% believing that it will face no future issues, a poll by Mannheimer Forschungsgruppe Wahlen for ZDF has found.
Debate over the pensions system has rocked the federal government in recent weeks, with economy minister Katherina Reiche controversially calling for an increase in the retirement age to 70 (from the current 67), to address a shortfall in funding.
Some 72% of Germans lack confidence that the government will be able to address the issue effectively.
When asked about solutions to the pensions issue, 17% supported higher contributions, 20% favoured a later retirement age, 32% preferred slower pension increases, and 31% were undecided.
Government perceptions
The Politbarometer survey also found that perceptions about the governing CDU/CSU-SPD coalition remain negative, with less than a third (32%) of respondents believing the political parties are cooperating well, compared with 61% who disagree.
Voting intentions have remained relatively stable, however – if an election was held today, the CDU/CSU would receive 27%, the AfD 23%, the SPD 15%, the Greens 12%, and Die Linke 11%.
Trump and Ukraine
Other findings from the survey include a lack of confidence that US president Donald Trump will be able to oversee a ceasefire in Ukraine, with 84% doubting that such an outcome will be possible. Some 82% believe that Vladimir Putin has no genuine interest in a lasting ceasefire, while 89% believe that Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky must be directly involved in negotiations.
The survey also captured views on the conflict in the Middle East, with more than three quarters (76%) stating that they believe Israel’s military campaign in Gaza is unjustified given the high number of civilian casualties. More than three fifths (62%) are in favour of stronger German political pressure on Israel to end the war, while recognition of Palestine as an independent state is backed by 60% of respondents. Read more here.
