A representative poll published on 9 November 2026 and commissioned by ARD shows that almost two-thirds of respondents say they are dissatisfied with how democracy in Germany currently works. The data were collected by Infratest dimap; according to the pollsters, fieldwork took place in October 2026. This dissatisfaction varies by region and constituency, with particularly high figures in parts of eastern Germany. ([presse.wdr.de](https://presse.wdr.de/plounge/wdr/programm/2026/11/20261109_deine_meinung_zaehlt_demokratie.html?utm_source=openai))
According to the poll, many respondents cite not only political failures as a cause of their dissatisfaction, but also perceived social polarisation, concerns about extremism and the lack of effectiveness of political decisions in addressing pressing problems. At the same time, a majority of the overall sample reaffirm that they continue to support the fundamental values of liberal democracy — a finding also confirmed this year by the Democracy Monitor of the Bertelsmann Stiftung This means that public sentiment distinguishes between support for democracy as a principle and assessments of how it currently works in practice. ([bertelsmann-stiftung.de](https://www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/de/themen/aktuelle-meldungen/2026/zustimmung-zur-liberalen-demokratie-in-deutschland-bleibt-sehr-hoch?cHash=ae8ff363ca75c2d94f61f8e4886ff911&tx_rsmbstpress_pi1%5Bdate_till%5D=01.01.1967&tx_rsmbstpress_pi1%5Bpage%5D=2&tx_rsmbstpress_pi1%5Bsword%5D=1&utm_source=openai))
Regionally, there are significant differences: in eastern Germany the proportion of dissatisfied respondents is well above the national average; in several northern and eastern states, three in five respondents give a critical assessment. North Rhine-Westphalia, by contrast, reports comparatively lower dissatisfaction, but is also affected by a narrow majority of critical assessments. Such east–west divides have already been documented in previous long-term studies and reflect structural differences in political culture, economic conditions and party-political affiliations. ([ndr.de](https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/info/umfrage-mehrheit-im-norden-unzufrieden-wie-demokratie-funktioniert%2Cdemokratie-172.html?utm_source=openai))
No immediate political or legal consequences can be inferred; however, experts involved in the studies cited warn that persistently low satisfaction with the practical implementation of democratic processes could weaken the legitimacy of political institutions if accompanied by declining voter turnout or growing support for anti-democratic alternatives. Researchers, on the other hand, stress that low satisfaction with specific institutions does not automatically mean that the democratic constitutional order is in crisis, as long as support for democracy as a principle remains stable. ([bertelsmann-stiftung.de](https://www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/de/themen/aktuelle-meldungen/2026/zustimmung-zur-liberalen-demokratie-in-deutschland-bleibt-sehr-hoch?cHash=ae8ff363ca75c2d94f61f8e4886ff911&tx_rsmbstpress_pi1%5Bdate_till%5D=01.01.1967&tx_rsmbstpress_pi1%5Bpage%5D=2&tx_rsmbstpress_pi1%5Bsword%5D=1&utm_source=openai))
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).