Trust in politicians reaches a new low
No reliability + no responsibility = no trust
The discussions about ever new rescue packages and bank bailouts, about childcare allowance and tax giveaways, about unfinished airports and faulty doctoral theses, as well as discussions about personnel and coalition statements, have left their mark on Germans. Only one in ten Germans (10.4%) believe that federal politicians will be able to solve future challenges. This is the result of the latest study by the BAT Foundation for Future Studies, which surveyed a representative sample of 2,000 Germans aged 14 and over.
Federal politicians in Berlin perform slightly better than state politicians (8.6%), local and municipal politicians (7.2%) or European politicians in Brussels (6.0%). Within the population, East Germans and low-income groups in particular have lost trust in their representatives - they trust politicians at all political levels (even) less often.
The reasons for this low level of trust are complex. More and more citizens are questioning the credibility of politicians in general and are of the opinion that they lead a life far removed from everyday reality. In addition, many voters fear being deceived by election promises, they criticise thinking in terms of legislative periods or opportunistic patronage politics. In addition, many citizens increasingly feel that politicians„ rhetoric is staged, random and lacks substance. ‚Citizens have the feeling that most politicians are more concerned with blackening and denigrating their political opponents than with constructive work. As a result, elections are less about content and much more about voting people out of office or choosing the ‘lesser evil“. This development is further reinforced by the decreasing differentiation between the parties - very few of them can still name significant differences," says Professor Dr Ulrich Reinhardt, the Foundation's Scientific Director.
Outlook: Disenchantment with politics was the word of the year in 1992. Twenty years later, disenchantment threatens to turn into indifference. In order to regain the lost interest, trust must be restored. This can certainly not be achieved in the short term, but can only grow again slowly. As a prerequisite for this, politicians and parties would have to offer more of their own profile and perspective, demonstrate more reliability and stability and be available for an improved mediation process. The coming (election) year will show whether they succeed in this.
The reasons for this low level of trust are complex. More and more citizens are questioning the credibility of politicians in general and are of the opinion that they lead a life far removed from everyday reality. In addition, many voters fear being deceived by election promises, they criticise thinking in terms of legislative periods or opportunistic patronage politics. In addition, many citizens increasingly feel that politicians„ rhetoric is staged, random and lacks substance. ‚Citizens have the feeling that most politicians are more concerned with blackening and denigrating their political opponents than with constructive work. As a result, elections are less about content and much more about voting people out of office or choosing the ‘lesser evil“. This development is further reinforced by the decreasing differentiation between the parties - very few of them can still name significant differences," says Professor Dr Ulrich Reinhardt, the Foundation's Scientific Director.
Outlook: Disenchantment with politics was the word of the year in 1992. Twenty years later, disenchantment threatens to turn into indifference. In order to regain the lost interest, trust must be restored. This can certainly not be achieved in the short term, but can only grow again slowly. As a prerequisite for this, politicians and parties would have to offer more of their own profile and perspective, demonstrate more reliability and stability and be available for an improved mediation process. The coming (election) year will show whether they succeed in this.
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