Overview
- The Infratest dimap poll, published Monday, November 9, found 87 percent of respondents say democracy is a good form of government while about 63 percent are dissatisfied with how it currently functions.
- When asked about the biggest threat to democracy, 34 percent named right‑wing extremism, making it the most frequent single concern reported in the survey.
- Large shares express doubts about core institutions: roughly one third question whether courts treat everyone equally and whether the media report freely.
- The survey shows strong public appetite for more direct participation, with about 70 percent backing federal referendums, 63 percent supporting citizens' councils (Bürgerräte), and 64 percent favoring citizen budgets (Bürgerhaushalte).
- Trust breaks along generational and regional lines: six out of ten under‑30s doubt that politics ensures social security and states such as Bavaria and North Rhine‑Westphalia report distinctive patterns that commentators link to recent state election results and debates over scaling participatory pilots.