Nearly half of people in eastern Germany-49 percent-express dissatisfaction with how democracy functions in Germany. In the west the level is slightly lower, with 38 percent feeling dissatisfied and 8 percent describing their feelings as “very dissatisfied”. These figures come from this year’s “Deutschland‑Monitor”, conducted on behalf of the federal government. The report will be presented by the east’s commissioner, Elisabeth Kaiser (SPD), on Thursday; the “Stern” magazine has already covered the study.
The researchers note that about one‑fifth of the overall population (21 percent) appears receptive to authoritarian ideas, while a quarter in the east (26 percent) and a sixth in the west (17 percent) share this view. Roughly 35 percent of eastern respondents agree with the statement that Germany now needs a single, strong party that embodies the will of the people, and another 26 percent are at least somewhat in favour. In the west, 30 percent of respondents find the statement correct, and an additional 23 percent are somewhat supportive.
Only 15 percent of eastern respondents prefer a “strong leader” who “must not heed Parliament”. Six percent consider a dictatorship “under certain circumstances” a better form of government, with a further 12 percent agreeing to some extent. These numbers are roughly half as high among western respondents.