– In a recent survey, 62 % of German citizens said they currently feel that fairness is lacking in the country, an increase of 2 percentage points from July 2025. This represents the highest level of perceived injustice in this question since September 2008.
– One‑third of adults (33 %) believe that Germany is instead largely fair, with no change compared to earlier months. The poll was conducted by Infratest on 1,319 voting‑eligible respondents for ARD between Monday and Wednesday of that week.
– The sense of injustice is stronger among those with lower incomes: 71 % in that group feel disadvantaged versus 52 % among higher‑income households. Young adults aged 18‑34 report a higher rate of unfairness (70 %) than seniors over 65 (57 %).
– Respondents most often cited the widening gap between rich and poor as the cause of unfairness (35 % – a 13‑percentage‑point increase from July 2025). Next came the view that taxation and levies are too heavy or unequal (13 %). About 9 % felt that foreigners and asylum seekers receive preferential treatment, and 8 % thought the gap between wages and social benefits is too small.
– When asked which party the public most believes could be responsible for ensuring social justice, 24 % pointed to the SPD (down 3 percentage points from September 2025; SPD’s weakest rating since December 2003). The AfD received 16 %, the Left 15 %, and the Union 15 %. Small minorities trusted the Greens (4 %), the BSW (3 %), and the FDP (1 %). A further 2 % placed confidence in another party. About 20 % responded “I don’t know” or that no party could be entrusted with this task.
– At the end of January a government‑appointed commission on social‑state reform released a report proposing several measures.
” Requiring EU citizens to have been employed full‑time in Germany for a certain period before receiving social benefits was supported by 73 % of respondents; 21 % thought the proposal was wrong.
” A digital portal that would allow all social benefits to be applied for online was favored by 71 %, while 23 % opposed it.
” Automatic child benefit payments after birth, without a separate application, had 58 % in favour and 38 % against.
” A proposal to increase flat‑rate social benefits and reduce individual eligibility checks was overwhelmingly rejected, with 71 % claiming it was wrong and only 23 % agreeing.