ARD-DeutschlandTrend 2004

Since 1997 the ARD-DeutschlandTREND is being conducted on behalf of the ARD (Arbeitsgemeinschaft der öffentlich-rechtlichen Rundfunkanstalten der Bundesrepublik Deutschland - First German Public Broadcasting Association) as well as various print media by Infratest dimap. The monthly telephone survey with approx. 1,000 respondents (for party preferences approx. 1,500 respondents) per wave is based on representative samples and measures attitudes of the voting-age population in the Federal Republic of Germany toward parties, politicians, and current political issues. Some topics are asked repeatedly in an identical manner over time, while other topics are included in one or several surveys only. The DeutschlandTREND is available as an annual cumulation for the years from 1998 onwards.<br>Party preference in the next federal election (Sunday question); satisfaction with selected top politicians (Brigitte Zypries, Christian Wulff, Edelgard Bulmahn, Edmund Stoiber, Friedrich Merz, Franz Müntefering, Gerhard Schröder, Hans Eichel, Horst Seehofer, Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, Joschka Fischer, Jürgen Rüttgers, Jürgen Trittin, Angela Merkel, Manfred Stolpe, Oskar Lafontaine, Otto Schily, Ole von Beust, Peter Struck, Roland Koch, Renate Künast, Renate Schmidt, Ulla Schmidt, Wolfgang Clement, Guido Westerwelle and Wolfgang Schäuble); agreement with various points of criticism of the Federal Government; Chancellor preference for Gerhard Schröder or Angela Merkel or for Gerhard Schröder or Edmund Stoiber; agreement with various statements on the FDP; assessment of the problem-solving competence of a CDU/CSU-led Federal Government; party competence: most competent party to solve selected political tasks (securing old-age pensions, securing jobs and creating new ones, foreigners policy, reliable foreign policy, social justice, health policy, representing Germany´s interests abroad, integrating foreigners, dealing with criminal and violent foreigners, fighting crime, citizens´ concerns and needs, tax policy, environmental policy, advancing Germany as a business location, securing prosperity, rules for the immigration of foreign workers to Germany, solving Germany´s future problems); party preference in the next European elections (Sunday question); personally most important topic from politics, economy and society (open, maximum two mentions); comparison of Angela Merkel with Edmund Stoiber in terms of: will to reform, assertiveness, social attitude, familiarity with citizens´ problems, sympathy, credibility, advancing the economy in Germany, creating and securing jobs, representing Germany´s interests abroad, correct concepts for Germany´s future problems; conditions in Germany currently more cause for confidence or more cause for concern; assessment of the economic situation in Germany currently and in a year´s time; satisfaction with the work of the individual governing parties, SPD and Greens; satisfaction with the work of the red-green Federal Government; expectations for the future with regard to: personal standard of living, personal opportunities in the labor market (job security or job search) and changes in personal circumstances due to the imminent enlargement of the European Union; party that will be the third strongest force in the German party system in the long term (Greens or FDP); headscarf controversy: agreement with German President Johannes Rau´s opinion on equal treatment of religious symbols; opinion on the use of Christian and Muslim symbols in schools; most suitable candidate from the Union and FDP camps for the office of the new Federal President; opinion on Turkey´s admission to the EU in the medium to long term; social reforms: change in own wage or salary after introduction of tax reform; bringing forward planned tax reform to 2004 is a step in the right direction; opinion on scope of further social reforms (measures taken so far are sufficient versus further reform efforts necessary); importance of various criteria for coming reforms (e.g. fair burden sharing, reduction of non-wage labor costs, etc.); acceptance of practice fee; opinion on Bundeswehr involvement in Iraq; evaluation of various politicians as successors to Federal President Rau; accusation against Wolfgang Schäuble for misrepresenting acceptance of a party donation as an obstacle to the office of Federal President; fair treatment of Wolfgang Schäuble in the discussion about his possible candidacy for Federal President; SPD should continue its reform course to date after another defeat in the election in Hamburg; need for further reforms of the tax system; tax relief or simplification of tax system personally more important than next step in tax reform; SPD should continue its reform course to date; SPD will maintain its reform course or give in to pressure from unions; support for planned faster deportation of suspected foreigners as part of fight against terrorism; support for training levy for companies that do not train apprentices; opinion on planned extension of working hours with same wage; opinion on the planned extension of working hours at the same wage or salary to strengthen the competitiveness of the German economy and to secure jobs; personal willingness to work longer hours at the same wage or salary (only employed persons); importance of the parties´ stance on various issues for one´s own election decision in the European elections (social reforms, Turkey´s accession to the EU and the war in Iraq); personally important prerequisites for the willingness to spend more money (stronger economic growth, more secure jobs, etc.); Federal Government should invest more despite higher debts to boost German economy; immigration law should regulate influx of foreign workers versus dealing with criminal and violent foreigners; government parties versus opposition parties most likely to have the power to make a difference in Germany; determination of the political course of the CDU/CSU more likely from the CDU with Angela Merkel or more likely from the CSU with Edmund Stoiber; expectation of the continuation of the red-green Federal Government until the next Bundestag election in 2006; Federal Government should invest more in renewable energies in view of rising oil prices; election decision conceivable for the new party Initiative for Labor and Social Justice planned by former SPD members; election decision in principle for the PDS; agreement with various statements on the SPD; the social reforms adopted by the Federal Government go too far versus not far enough; determination of the SPD´s political course more likely from Chancellor Gerhard Schröder or more likely from party chairman Franz Müntefering; SPD should be more accommodating to the unions again versus sticking to the reform course; extending working hours at the same wage to secure jobs is the right thing to do; acceptance of various options for extending working hours (extending weekly working hours, eliminating holidays, waiving vacation days); reshuffle of the Federal Cabinet: opinion on replacing individual members of the Federal Government; Ministers who should be replaced; expected improved standing of the party among voters by replacing some SPD ministers; election decision for the new party Initiative for Labor and Social Justice, which has been founded in the meantime, conceivable in the next federal election; expected stimulation of the labor market by the CDU demand for a relaxation of protection against dismissal; expected reduction in the number of refugees to Europe through the establishment of reception camps in North Africa for boat people; voting for the Republicans, the DVU or the NPD in the next state election conceivable in principle; agreement with various statements on the CDU; criticism of labor market reform Harz IV: agreement with the statement Hartz IV is acceptable for the West, but brings unacceptable hardships for the East; accusation of ingratitude on the part of East Germans is justified; opinion on the extent of financial support for East German states by the West; postponement of further reforms of the social systems until after the 2006 Bundestag elections is correct vs. tackling further reforms as quickly as possible; party with the most capable politicians at the top; most suitable politician suited to lead Germany; Union politician most likely to be a candidate for Chancellor against Gerhard Schröder in the next Bundestag election (Angela Merkel or Edmund Stoiber); EU should accept Turkey as a member in the medium to long term versus Turkey should not be accepted into the EU as a matter of principle; reasons for or against Turkey´s admission to the EU; preference for the CDU or CSU model on health insurance contributions; against Turkey´s admission to the EU; preference for the CDU or CSU model on health insurance contributions; voting decision in principle for an electoral alliance of NPD and DVU in the next Bundestag election; agreement with various statements on Angela Merkel; respondent would rather have a beer with Gerhard Schröder or with Angela Merkel; agreement with various statements on the Union; opinion on the need for a patriotism debate; mandatory oath to the Basic Law for foreigners applying for a German passport.

Demography: swx; age; employment; occupational status; highest level of schooling; household net income.

Additionally coded were: record or pagination number; wave identifier; region (east/west); federal state; BIK community type; weighting factor.