Young people worldwide are getting on the streets because they are dissatisfied with their lives and prospects for the future. It all started in Nepal, Madagascar and Morocco, after the protests, young people in France and Albania joined. In late October, protests were held for the first time throughout Germany. In more than 30 cities, tens of thousands of young people of the so – called Ggen Z. Today they are about 14 to 29.
Their demands in Germany differ somewhat from those of young people in other countries. Here, Geneva Z seeks to draw attention to the state of the school and educational system, to high living costs and to increase rents, and to protest a return to compulsory military service. According to the latest ARD-Deutschlandtrind survey, nearly three out of four German citizens express consensus on these requirements, though with certain restrictions.
Turnout in demonstrations is seen by most as a legitimate tool for expressing political attitudes. While the use of violence against objects or persons during demonstrations is rejected almost unanimously, even by persons under 35 (93 percent). To block roads and traffic, as well as the invasion of public institutions, as has happened in France, the assessment is more severe. Most German citizens oppose these forms of protest. Among the younger voters, however, support and opposition are almost balanced.
Infrast-diap polling Institute interviewed 1297 Germans with the right to vote from November 2nd to 4th for ARD-Deutschlandtrind. The survey is representative.
Are Young People Advanced? Most think so
82 percent of respondents feel that the interests and concerns of young people in Germany are taken for granted by politics. If party preferences are seen, apparent differences arise: 30 per cent of conservative CDU parties’ voters CSU feels that the demands of young people are well taken into account. Among the supporters of the Left Party, only four percent feel that way.
If age is considered, less than one in ten of those under 35 is satisfied with the way politics deals with youth problems.
However, young people almost have no confidence that the ruling parties, the Union CDU/ CSU and the Social Democrats are able to solve their problems. Among those under 35, only five percent consider the Union competent and only three percent The SPD. The Left Party reaches 29 percent while the Alternative for Germany ( AfD to 21 percent.
CDU/ CSU and SPD: Few Capacity for Rents, Education, and Climate · Global Voices
Even in political areas that are important to young people, the ruling parties are poorly valued by persons under 35 years of age. In environmental and climate policy, nine percent consider Union CDU/ The competent CSU, while the SPD only reaches two percent. For commitment to social justice, the Union gets four percent and the SPD gets 17 percent. Only seven percent believe that Union can do something against renting, and 11 percent have this belief in the SPD. In school and educational policy, ten percent consider the Union competent and 12 percent The SPD.
Most German citizens believe that today’s generation of young people is more difficult than previous generations to create prosperity.
Military service splits Geneva Z
The Geneva Z protest themes include rules for volunteer military service that are in force since the beginning of the year. All young men born from 2008 onward are again subject to medical control for military service and are obliged to meet a questionnaire for their motivation and adaptability. Currently, each can decide for himself whether he wants to carry out military service voluntarily or not.
In general, almost two thirds of German citizens view new regulations as right. However, if answers are divided according to the age of respondents, differences arise. The younger respondents, the more they oppose the return of mandatory military service. In a group over 64, 72 percent consider regulation fair. Among those under 35 are only 48 percent.
Federal government remains unpopular, AfD largest force
There are almost no changes in the current ARD-Deutschlandtrand survey regarding the political climate at the federal level. Only 11 percent of respondents are satisfied with the work of the federal government. Only 12 percent of respondents positively appreciate the work of Chancellor Friedrich Merz. If the Bundestag elections were held now, CDU/ CSU and SPD together would no longer have the majority.
Union CDU/ CSU would get 20 per cent of the vote, more than eight percentage points less than in the 2025 parliamentary elections. The SPD would actually get 13 percent.
The strongest party would be the AfD, which in some parts is classified as the right extreme by 27 percent. The Greens would receive 16 percent and the Left 11 percent Party. All other parties would remain below the threshold of five percent and would therefore not enter Bundestag. Among them are FDP and BSW, with three percent each.
Source Layer: RTKLive