Overview
- A Forsa survey for Stern/RTL on Jan. 15–16 reports 64% against reordering the 16 states, 30% in favor, and 6% undecided, based on 1,008 respondents with a ±3-point margin.
- Resistance is broad, including in Bavaria where 67% oppose the idea, with similar majorities in North Rhine-Westphalia and Baden-Württemberg.
- Views do not differ between western and eastern regions, with 64% and 65% respectively opposed.
- Party preferences diverge, with 38% of CDU/CSU voters in favor and 71% of SPD supporters against, according to Forsa.
- The Bavarian premier has not named specific mergers and has criticized the Länderfinanzausgleich, highlighting Berlin’s reported €94 billion in receipts since 1995 and Bavaria’s 60% share of payments.