A survey conducted by Forsa, commissioned by the magazine Stern, indicates that 64% of Germans do not find the welfare state sustainable in its current form. Only 34% of respondents continue to support the welfare state, while 2% did not state an opinion. This finding highlights a significant shift in public perception towards the welfare system, with growing concerns about its financial viability.

The skepticism about the welfare state's funding appears to be most pronounced among supporters of the CDU/CSU parties (79%) and the right-wing AfD party (84%). Interestingly, even among Social Democratic (SPD) voters, a majority (58%) share the doubts about the welfare state's future. This collective skepticism indicates that there is a significant portion of the population questioning the long-term sustainability of the country's welfare provisions, suggesting a shift in political attitudes that may impact future policy decisions.

In contrast, support for the welfare state remains strong among the left, with a majority of Green party supporters (57%) and a significant number of Left party supporters (66%) believing there are no fundamental financing issues. This divide underscores the political polarization regarding welfare state policies in Germany, where nearly two-thirds of the population align with comments made by Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) weeks prior, expressing doubts about continuing to finance the welfare state as it exists today.