Overview
- The MIDEM 'Polarisierungsbarometer', based on a YouGov survey of 2,785 adults in March 2026, shows roughly 54 percent want Germany to keep backing Ukraine while about 29 percent prefer closer ties with Russia.
- The share of respondents choosing the most pro‑Russia position rose from 13.7 percent to 17.3 percent, indicating a measurable shift toward more extreme views on the Russia–Ukraine question.
- Researchers found no overall rise in polarization compared with 2025, but they documented sharper divides on specific issues such as immigration, skilled‑worker policy, and defence spending.
- Supporters of the Greens and the AfD display the strongest affective polarization, and higher levels of distrust or negative ratings of opponents are more common among men, people over 70, and lower‑educated respondents.
- Public opinion favors tighter overall immigration rules while backing for easier skilled‑worker entry fell from 61 percent to 56 percent and a slim majority (about 52 percent) supports higher defence spending, a mix that could pressure parties to shift policy and messaging.