Hesse in the democracy check: majority dissatisfied with politics!

Hesse in the democracy check: majority dissatisfied with politics!

In Hesse, things are bubbling beneath the surface when it comes to satisfaction with democracy. A current survey commissioned by the state government and carried out by Infratest Dimap shows sobering results. Of 1,502 eligible voters surveyed, 51 percent believe that democracy in Germany does not work well or only works to a limited extent. For most people, trust in political institutions has declined, as hessenschau.de reports.

A sobering picture also emerges when looking at the social climate. 86 percent of those surveyed are afraid that public order will collapse, while 77 percent see the state as bureaucratically overburdened. During this time, mayors enjoy more trust than the population in the federal government. Criticism of democracy is particularly widespread among people with lower incomes and in rural regions, which clearly highlights the current challenges.

A positive mood in Hesse?

But not everything is negative. The Hessian State Chancellery, which examined similar topics in a survey in April 2025, puts forward a different perspective. It turned out that 60 percent of those surveyed in Hesse rate democracy as very good or fairly good. This shows that, despite the critical statements, the vast majority have a positive basic attitude towards democracy, as the State Chancellery of Hesse emphasizes.

Prime Minister Boris Rhein has set the central point of the electoral period on rebuilding trust in democracy. An important concern that many citizens share: 77 percent of those surveyed would like clearer and more understandable voting rights, which is seen as a step towards more transparency. The demand for directly elected representatives in parliament is also generating great interest.

Social cohesion and challenges

The surveys show that 88 percent of Hessian citizens feel connected to their state, with more than half saying they are “very connected”. At the same time, 70 percent are worried about internal security and support initiatives such as the seven-point plan for Frankfurt's train station district.

However, the downers remain noticeable. A growing deterioration of public order and excessive bureaucracy are increasing the need for action in politics. State Chancellor Benedikt Kuhn sees security and reducing bureaucracy as the biggest challenges. Another notable aspect is that 30 percent of those surveyed, especially younger people, do not find out about state politics and prefer to get information via public broadcasting.

In summary, it can be seen that the mood in Hesse is mixed. Despite widespread concerns and dissatisfaction with democracy, there are also bright spots in the form of regional trust and a general desire for greater participation and transparency. Views on the functioning of democracy are shaped by various factors that point to a complex reality, as bpb.de presents.