A ZDF Politbarometer released on 24 October 2025 found that 63 % of respondents agreed with Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s recent claim that the visible presence of non-integrated migrants still poses a problem for Germany’s city centres. Only 29 % disagreed, while eight percent were undecided. Support was highest among Germans aged 35–59 (70 %) and those over 60 (66 %), but even 42 % of 18- to 34-year-olds backed the statement.
The survey lands amid a heated legislative agenda in Berlin, where Merz’s CDU/CSU-SPD coalition is debating stricter rules on residence permit renewals, welfare eligibility and public-order offences. Political analysts say the poll gives the chancellery additional leverage to press ahead with planned amendments to the Residence Act that would tighten sanctions on repeat offenders and require proof of German-language progress when extending temporary permits.
Business-mobility managers should watch the debate closely because the draft bill also proposes higher integration-course fees for employers that bring family dependants. Corporates fear the measure could increase assignment costs by up to €3,000 per employee. Industry groups are urging lawmakers to exempt Blue-Card holders and intra-corporate transferees, arguing that skilled-labour immigration should not be conflated with irregular migration.
The poll further illustrates a widening generational divide on migration: younger Germans, especially in university towns, remain more open to diversity, while older cohorts prioritise public-order concerns. HR departments may need to address staff tensions if political rhetoric hardens. Diversity officers recommend proactive communication that differentiates legal labour migration from irregular inflows.
For relocation providers, the prospect of stricter local-ordinance enforcement—ranging from loitering fines to ID checks on public squares—could impact assignee experiences in Berlin, Frankfurt and Leipzig. Integrating cultural-orientation modules into welcome programmes can help mitigate negative perceptions.
The survey lands amid a heated legislative agenda in Berlin, where Merz’s CDU/CSU-SPD coalition is debating stricter rules on residence permit renewals, welfare eligibility and public-order offences. Political analysts say the poll gives the chancellery additional leverage to press ahead with planned amendments to the Residence Act that would tighten sanctions on repeat offenders and require proof of German-language progress when extending temporary permits.
Business-mobility managers should watch the debate closely because the draft bill also proposes higher integration-course fees for employers that bring family dependants. Corporates fear the measure could increase assignment costs by up to €3,000 per employee. Industry groups are urging lawmakers to exempt Blue-Card holders and intra-corporate transferees, arguing that skilled-labour immigration should not be conflated with irregular migration.
The poll further illustrates a widening generational divide on migration: younger Germans, especially in university towns, remain more open to diversity, while older cohorts prioritise public-order concerns. HR departments may need to address staff tensions if political rhetoric hardens. Diversity officers recommend proactive communication that differentiates legal labour migration from irregular inflows.
For relocation providers, the prospect of stricter local-ordinance enforcement—ranging from loitering fines to ID checks on public squares—could impact assignee experiences in Berlin, Frankfurt and Leipzig. Integrating cultural-orientation modules into welcome programmes can help mitigate negative perceptions.
