Overview

• President Frank-Walter Steinmeier cautioned that support for the political centre is waning, particularly in the East, and urged citizens to defend democracy.
• The latest YouGov survey finds 30% nationwide — and 43% in the East — believe differences outweigh commonalities, up nine points among East Germans since 2019.
• A government report from East commissioner Elisabeth Kaiser says many young East Germans grow up with lower family incomes and little wealth, remain more reliant on social benefits, and are underrepresented in leadership.
• Kaiser backs steps to narrow wealth gaps, including changes to wealth and inheritance taxation, a universal start-capital ‘Grunderbe’, a planned early-start pension scheme, and programs tied to a new Zukunftszentrum in Halle.
• Research from DIW notes substantial catch-up yet persistent disparities, with eastern productivity at roughly 90% of western levels and about two million people lost to outmigration since reunification.