Seventeen percent of East Germans express faith in their government institutions

In a time of tight budgets and severe staff shortages, Volker Geyer, the chief of the German Association of Cities and Towns (dbb), has urged for a discussion on the state's future tasks. This call comes as 73% of German citizens believe the state is overwhelmed in handling its tasks and problems, marking a record low in trust.

According to a survey, 30% of German citizens have observed public service employees being hindered, harassed, insulted, or attacked. This hostility towards public service employees is particularly prevalent among drivers of buses and trams, as reported by dbb.

Volker Geyer has called for a debate on which tasks the state should continue to fulfill in the future. He emphasises the importance of ensuring that the plans of the current black-red federal government and the previous coalition of SPD, Greens, and FDP are professionally implemented.

The survey also revealed that 58% of German citizens want clearer allocation of responsibilities from state authorities, while 66% suggest more online services from state authorities. Moreover, 79% of citizens want faster processing times from state authorities.

Asylum and refugee policy, social security and pensions, schools/education, taxes/finances, internal security, and healthcare are cited as the most challenging areas for the state. In these areas, 73% of citizens perceive the state as being overloaded.

Interestingly, almost one in five believes that the current black-red federal government will strengthen the state's performance more than the previous coalition. However, 70% believe that the change of government will not significantly affect the state's performance.

Trust in the state varies among political supporters. Supporters of the SPD and Greens have more than 40% trust in the state, while those of the Union and Left have around one-third, and AfD supporters only 4%. This trust also appears to be influenced by education level, with those holding a university degree trusting the state more (29%) than those with a primary school education (16%).

Regionally, there is a significant difference in trust. In eastern Germany, only 17% believe the state is capable of fulfilling its tasks, compared to 24% in the west.

Volker Geyer warns against hostility towards public service employees, stating that loss of respect can escalate to hate and violence. He urges for a respectful and constructive dialogue about the state's future tasks and responsibilities.

85% of German citizens suggest that state authorities could improve by implementing fewer regulations. This sentiment reflects a desire for more efficiency and streamlined processes in the public sector.

As the state grapples with numerous challenges, the call for change and improvement in state performance remains a pressing concern for many German citizens.

Seventeen percent of East Germans express faith in their government institutions