RTL/ntv trend barometer
Germans expect gas supply bottlenecks
01/28/2022 06:13 am
According to 47 percent of Germans, Russia bears the greatest share of responsibility for the current conflict between the West and Russia. 10 percent see NATO as having the main responsibility.
Most Germans are worried about the current political dispute between Russia and NATO, which is primarily about the situation in Ukraine. In a survey by the opinion research institute Forsa for the RTL/ntv trend barometer, 37 percent say they are very concerned, 50 percent are somewhat concerned. 12 percent are not worried at all.
The German government has repeatedly refused arms deliveries to Ukraine. A majority of Germans find that correct. Only 22 percent of respondents believe that the German government should change its negative attitude and support Ukraine with arms deliveries. A clear majority of 69 percent is against arms deliveries to Ukraine.
A majority of 61 percent of respondents believe that the conflict between Ukraine and Russia will result in bottlenecks in the supply of Russian gas to Germany. 33 percent do not expect delivery bottlenecks.
46 percent against tightening the sanctions
With a view to a possible tightening of the economic sanctions against Russia, the picture is divided: 35 percent of Germans are in favor of tightening the economic sanctions against Russia even if this leads to an increase in energy prices. 6 percent are for economic sanctions, but not if this leads to an increase in energy prices. 46 percent are generally against tightening economic sanctions against Russia.
Only the Greens, at 60 percent, are in favor of a tightening, even if this leads to an increase in energy prices. 42 percent of SPD supporters say so, 38 percent of FDP supporters and 39 percent of Union supporters. Left supporters are 26 percent in favor of sanctions, even if they lead to an increase in energy prices. Only 5 percent of AfD supporters say so. Of them, 83 percent are generally against tightening sanctions.
Among East Germans, 72 percent reject tightening sanctions, among West Germans the figure is 41 percent. 18 percent of East Germans are definitely in favor of sanctions, 6 percent only if this does not lead to an increase in energy prices. Among West Germans, 38 percent are in any case in favor of tightening the sanctions and 6 percent are also restricted.
51 percent think Nord Stream 2 should go into operation as planned
51 percent of Germans believe that the Nord Stream 2 Baltic Sea pipeline should go into operation as planned. 41 percent say that the gas pipeline should not be put into operation, at least for the time being.
The majority of supporters of the FDP, the Left Party and especially the AfD are of the opinion that Nord Stream 2 should go into operation as planned. 53 percent of the FDP supporters say so, 52 percent of the left and 93 percent of the AfD supporters. A narrow majority of the SPD and Union supporters and a clear majority of the Greens supporters are in favor of at least temporarily suspending the start-up. This is 55 percent for SPD supporters, 67 percent for the Greens and 53 percent for Union supporters.
East and West divided on allocation of responsibility
According to 47 percent of Germans, Russia bears the greatest share of responsibility for the current conflict. 10 percent see the main responsibility with NATO, 5 percent with the USA and 1 percent with Ukraine. 28 percent think that all actors bear equal responsibility for this.
Clear differences can be seen here between West and East: Half of the West Germans, but only 27 percent of East Germans see the main responsibility in Russia. At 40 percent, AfD supporters most frequently believe that NATO bears the greatest share of responsibility for the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
The data was collected from January 25th to 26th, 2022 by the market and opinion research institute Forsa on behalf of RTL Germany. Database: 1005 respondents. Statistical error tolerance: +/-3 percentage points.