Trend barometer from RTL and ntv
Immigration is becoming more important, but not a top issue
September 26, 2023, 12:30 p.m
In the RTL and ntv trend barometer, respondents increasingly name immigration as one of the most important issues – but they consider the war in Ukraine and inflation to be even more urgent. Given the intense debate, the Forsa survey shows further surprising results.
Immigration is becoming more and more important for people in Germany. In the current trend barometer from RTL and ntv, 17 percent named it as the most important topic. This puts it in fourth place in the ranking behind the war in Ukraine (37 percent), the federal government (29 percent) and the economic situation including inflation (24 percent). The previous week, nine percent named immigration as the most important issue; two weeks ago the figure was six.
The trend barometer also shows that most Germans do not feel bothered by refugees and are very skeptical about an upper limit for their admission. For the survey, the opinion research institute Forsa wanted to know whether those surveyed had already noticed anything about refugees in their own city or community. In Germany as a whole, 78 percent said yes (East: 82 percent, West: 77 percent). 22 percent said they had not heard anything about arriving migrants.
The differences are clearer when you look at the supporters of the different parties. 97 percent of AfD supporters said they had noticed refugees. However, among Green voters it was only 67 percent. The other parties fall in between (FDP: 69, SPD: 72 and CDU/CSU: 74). The high value of the AfD reflects the outstanding importance that the issue has for the party.
Most people in the country have already noticed something, although only a few (17 percent) found it annoying. In East Germany the values are higher. 26 percent felt disturbed, while in the West it was 15 percent. Here, too, there is a clear contrast when you look at party loyalty. Of voters from the Greens (1 percent), FDP (7), SPD (8) and Union (13 percent), only a minority found the presence of refugees disturbing. The situation is different for AfD supporters: 48 percent felt disturbed.
Only just under a third (31 percent) of those surveyed believe that an upper limit can limit the admission of refugees. 65 percent do not assume that an upper limit will have a major impact. The values for East and West Germany are the same. Skepticism is particularly great among Green voters. 82 percent don’t think much of the idea. Skepticism also predominates among supporters of all other parties – even among the AfD: 62 percent do not expect this to reduce the number of refugees. The hopes of Union sympathizers are somewhat higher. 39 percent – more than in all other voter groups – believe in the effectiveness of the measure, 58 percent are skeptical.
For the trend barometer on perceptions of refugees and the upper limit, Forsa surveyed 1,005 people on behalf of RTL and ntv between September 22nd and 25th. The statistical margin of error is +/- three percentage points.