Social issues in the election campaign: citizens demand more attention!

Social issues in the election campaign: citizens demand more attention!

In the run -up to the Bundestag election, surveys showed that social issues are significantly neglected in the election campaign. A current survey by Civey for the social association VDK shows that 72 percent of those surveyed share this opinion. The VDK President Verena Bentele is concerned that political concepts to strengthen the welfare state should be discussed more intensively. In particular, topics such as sufficient pensions, a functioning and affordable health and care system as well as the fight against poverty are in the foreground. Bentele calls for stronger focus on this matter, especially in the decisive week of the election campaign, to meet voter needs. Kabinett Online reports of broad consent to the statement that social issues are perceived as inadequate everywhere in Germany.

The survey, which was carried out between 11 and 13 February 2025, comprised 5,000 Germans aged 18 and over. The results are representative and show that only 15 percent of the respondents perceive the treatment of social issues in the election campaign. Another 10 percent believe that such topics are even excessively discussed. While the approval that social questions are not adequately treated can be found in all federal states and groups, there is a particularly pronounced mismatch in eastern Germany, where almost 80 percent have the feeling that social issues are neglected. vdk emphasizes that in particular people with small and medium-sized incomes as well as in difficult life situations in the campaign.

political duel and social issues

The lack of attention to socio -political topics was also criticized in the latest duel between the top candidates of the big parties, Friedrich Merz and Olaf Scholz. Many spectators and analysts missed fundamental discussions about social issues that are crucial for a significant part of the electorate.

according to Sonntagsblatt Sachthemen rarely have direct influence on the decision-making of the voters. However, it is determined that terms such as "social justice" and topics such as pension and rent are certainly considered important by the citizens. However, social scientist Rüdiger Schmitt-Beck noted that the attractiveness of the top candidates is often weighted more than the topics they are talking about.

campaign activities and voter interest

While many citizens find social circumstances critical, they are often less affected by specific social reforms, such as increases in the minimum wage. Peter Matuschek from the Forsa Institute describes the current election year as a more complex in its decision-making than in previous election cycles. Social issues that have often been at the center of the voter interests in the past, such as the Hartz reforms, appear less relevant in the current political agenda, since the SPD, which is traditionally considered to be competent on social issues, also has to rely on other topics in the current competition.

Bentele appeals to the political parties to increasingly take care of the interests of voters in the remaining time before the election and not to ignore the social challenges. A deeper examination of these topics could not only increase the visibility of the parties, but also help to regain the trust of voters.