The results of the latest Political Panel Germany (Politikpanel Deutschland) survey show that whilst most citizens reject a coalition between the CDU/CSU and the AfD at the federal level, there is significantly greater acceptance of cooperation between the parties at the local level. The online survey also provides insights into attitudes towards compulsory military service, artificial intelligence, organised crime, and other social issues.

The Political Panel Germany is an online survey conducted by the University of Freiburg, which has been carried out at irregular intervals since the 2017 federal election by political scientists Prof. Dr Uwe Wagschal and PD Dr Sebastian Jäckle from the Department of Political Science at the University of Freiburg. The current survey is based on responses from 6,949 people who completed an online questionnaire in full between 23 October and 2 November 2026.

One focus of the current survey was on respondents’ attitudes towards possible cooperation between the CDU/CSU and AfD parties. Since its ‘incompatibility’ resolutions of 2018 (CDU) and 2019 (CSU), the Union has ruled out coalitions and similar forms of cooperation with the AfD. Following the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania last September, in which the AfD emerged as the largest party in both cases, this policy of distancing itself from the AfD is now under debate. The Political Panel has therefore surveyed attitudes towards various forms of cooperation at the federal, state and municipal levels. Two patterns emerge: the closer the cooperation, the lower the level of acceptance. At the same time, it is clear that the closer the political level is to the public, the higher the level of acceptance.

Firewall: Largely intact at the federal level, but fragile at the municipal level

Around 56 per cent of citizens surveyed consider a governing coalition between the CDU/CSU and the AfD at the federal level to be ‘somewhat unacceptable’, whilst around nine per cent consider it ‘completely unacceptable’. At the municipal level, the picture is different: 52 per cent of respondents consider a joint mayoral candidacy by the CDU/CSU and the AfD to be ‘somewhat’ or ‘completely’ acceptable. When it comes to joint voting on political proposals put forward by the AfD, the figure is 53 per cent. Where proposals from the CDU are concerned, the majority of respondents are open to joint voting at all political levels – 63 per cent at the municipal level, 59 per cent at the state level, and 57 per cent at the federal level.

“The figures show that the firewall is still largely intact at both the federal and state levels – but it is crumbling from the bottom up,” says Wagschal. “The closer politics is to the public and the more it revolves around specific policy decisions, the less a blanket distinction makes sense to many people. This extends well into the CDU/CSU’s own support base. It is worth noting that the state level is assessed in much the same way as the federal level: The real problem lies within the town halls and local councils.”

Regardless of the political level, 30 per cent of respondents consider all forms of cooperation to be unacceptable, whilst 23 per cent consider them all to be acceptable. “This shows that the firewall issue is polarising and divisive,” says Wagschal.

CDU/CSU supporters: ‘No’ to a coalition, ‘yes’ to local cooperation

Among CDU/CSU supporters, acceptance depends particularly strongly on the political level. Only 16 per cent of them consider a coalition with the AfD at the federal level to be somewhat or entirely acceptable, whilst 48 per cent consider the AfD’s tacit support for a CDU minority government to be somewhat or entirely acceptable. By contrast, a majority of 52 per cent regard the joint election of mayors as somewhat or entirely acceptable. At the federal level, a minority of 41 per cent consider joint voting on AfD proposals to be somewhat or entirely acceptable, whilst at the municipal level a majority of 56 per cent do so. For CDU proposals, approval rises from 69 per cent at the federal level to 78 per cent at the municipal level.

The patterns described are also evident among SPD and Green Party supporters, though to a lesser extent: amongst SPD and Green Party supporters, around 80 per cent consider joint voting on CDU proposals at the federal level to be completely or somewhat unacceptable, whereas at the municipal level the figure is around 65 per cent.

Compulsory military service: majority in favour, younger people remain sceptical

Along with questions on the subject of fire walls, the Political Panel also examines attitudes towards other social issues, such as a general compulsory military service for young men and women. Sixty-two per cent of respondents are in favour of this, whilst 28 per cent are against it. Compared with February 2026, support has fallen slightly across all age groups, but remains at or above the level recorded in July 2025. The 18- to 30-year-olds, who would have to undertake such service themselves, are the only age group to be, on average, slightly opposed to the idea. The highest level of support is found among the oldest respondents. Support is highest amongst supporters* of the CDU/CSU (87 per cent) and the FDP (76 per cent). A majority of respondents intending to vote for Die Linke and the BSW reject the idea (66 per cent and 61 per cent respectively).

Voting decisions: Wahl-O-Mat is used more often than AI

91 per cent of respondents have used the Wahl-O-Mat at least once; amongst 18- to 30-year-olds, the figure is almost 100 per cent. Twenty-four per cent have used artificial intelligence to help them decide how to vote, most commonly ChatGPT. Unlike with online voting guides, the youngest respondents are the least likely to use AI for this purpose. According to the respondents, party manifestos and policy issues were the most important factors in their own voting decisions for the federal election (95 per cent), whilst online voting guides were important for 36 per cent and AI for 5 per cent.

AI in the workplace: expected job losses, but little personal concern

30 per cent use AI applications at work at least once a day, whilst 39 per cent do so in their private lives. 76 per cent expect the number of jobs in Germany to fall as a result of AI. By contrast, only 17 per cent are concerned about their own job, with 18- to 30-year-olds being the most concerned (24 per cent). Sixty per cent support making AI training compulsory in vocational training and higher education, 34 per cent support a universal basic income, and 14 per cent support a relaxation of employment protection laws.

Trust in institutions: The police and the courts take the lead

The police (69 per cent trust them to some extent or completely) and the courts (63 per cent) enjoy the highest levels of trust. 43 per cent trust public broadcasting, 42 per cent trust Parliament and 28 per cent trust the Government. There are significant differences in trust in Parliament, the government and public broadcasting depending on party preference: supporters of the CDU/CSU and the SPD have the highest levels of trust in Parliament and the government, whilst supporters of the Greens and the SPD have the highest levels of trust in public broadcasting. Respondents intending to vote for the BSW and the AfD have by far the lowest levels of trust in these three institutions.