Germans increasingly pessimistic on the refugee crisis, poll finds

A significant majority of Germans (71%) believe their country can no longer cope with the large number of refugees from crisis areas. However, according to a Politbarometer poll conducted for broadcaster ZDF, only 27% of those surveyed remain optimistic on this issue.

The findings of the survey, conducted after the terrorist attack in Solingen at the end of August, reveal widespread dissatisfaction with Germany's migration policy. Seventy-one per cent of respondents feel the nation is overwhelmed by the influx of refugees from crisis areas, whereas 27% are still hopeful, reported the ZDF portal on Friday.

This reflects a notable rise in pessimism compared to a survey conducted in March this year. At that time, 55% of respondents believed the country struggled with refugees, while 42% were optimistic.

A survey by the Infratest Dimap Institute, commissioned by ARD, revealed that the issue of "immigration and refugees" is currently deemed the most pressing or one of the two most pressing problems in Germany; 48% of respondents shared this view. The survey's results, published on Friday, show a 22 percentage point increase in such assessments compared to April this year.

Following the attack in Solingen, initial discussions regarding potential changes in migration policy between the ruling coalition, the opposition (CDU/CSU), and federal states have already taken place. However, Tuesday's round of talks ended without any concrete results, and further discussions are scheduled for next week.

According to the Infratest Dimap survey, 82% of Germans support enhancing prevention and education on radical Islamism, including in schools and refugee centres. Seventy-three per cent of respondents favour permanent controls on German borders, and 72% want the German security services to be granted additional powers, such as reviewing electronic communications, including chats.