Civil servants' association sounds the alarm over survey: 70 percent consider state overburdened
According to a survey conducted by the Forsa research institute on behalf of the DBB union, the state is perceived as overburdened by the population, particularly in the areas of refugee and education policy as well as internal security. The results also provide insights into the development of individual voter and population groups. "What really surprises me is that 77 percent of East Germans, 90 percent of AfD voters, and 85 percent of FDP voters consider our state to be overburdened, and I don't get the impression that the responsible parties are drawing the right conclusions from this," said DBB chairman Ulrich Silberbach in Berlin.
"We need effective investment and modernization programs in the areas of education and internal security, and we need a consistent new approach in migration policy," demanded Silberbach. The key words in the latter area should be better control and more intensive support. However, symbol politics and new special commissions, working groups, and state secretary positions would not help in the current situation, according to Silberbach.
According to the DBB survey, people view the maintenance of social justice, the improvement of infrastructure, the modernization and digitalization of public services, and the strengthening of the Bundeswehr as the most important tasks of the state. Climate protection and renewable energies, on the other hand, fell significantly behind in the priority ranking in recent years.
According to the union, people make a clear distinction in their assessment of overburdening between state institutions and their employees. Public service professions held top spots in the reputation ranking in 2024. This applies above all to firefighters and firefighters. The "positive trend" in the image of public sector employees cannot prevent the ongoing loss of authority of the state, summarized Silberbach. Only politics can provide relief.
- The survey by Forsa, commissioned by DBB union, indicates that 77 percent of East Germans, 90 percent of AfD voters, and 85 percent of FDP voters perceive the state as overburdened.
- Ulrich Silberbach, DBB chairman, expressed his surprise in Berlin about these numbers, stating that responsible parties seem not to be addressing the issue adequately.
- Silberbach demands effective investment and modernization programs in education and internal security, alongside a new, consistent approach in migration policy.
- The survey reveals that people prioritize the maintenance of social justice, infrastructure improvements, public service modernization, digitalization, and Bundeswehr strengthening as the state's key tasks.
- Climate protection and renewable energies have seen a decline in priority ranking in recent years, as pointed out in the survey.
- In terms of reputation, public service professions rank highly, with firefighters and firefighters maintaining top spots in 2024, but this cannot prevent the ongoing loss of authority of the state, according to Silberbach.
- According to DBB, the population distinguishes between state institutions and their employees, and only political action can provide relief from the perceived overburdening.
