Majority of Germans in favor of stopping imports of gas and oil from Russia

According to a survey, a majority of Germans are in favor of stopping oil and gas imports from Russia because of the Ukraine war. According to the ZDF “political barometer” published on Friday, 55 percent of those questioned are in favor of not importing any more Russian oil or gas, even if this leads to supply problems in Germany. 39 percent of respondents are against such a step.

Such an embargo is supported by a majority of the supporters of the SPD (62 percent), CDU/CSU (56 percent) and Greens (73 percent). Most supporters of the FDP (57 percent), AfD (78 percent) and Linke (65 percent), on the other hand, want Germany to continue to get gas and oil from Russia.

In order to secure the energy supply in the coming years, 92 percent rely on the accelerated expansion of renewable energies. Only seven percent were against it. A longer service life for nuclear power plants was in favor of 57 percent, against 41 percent. 56 percent of those surveyed were in favor of coal-fired power plants being operated longer than planned. 41 percent did not want that.

47 percent believe that the economic sanctions that Western countries have imposed on Russia because of the war of aggression in Ukraine, which also lead to disadvantages for us, are just right. For another 38 percent, the sanctions do not go far enough. Only eleven percent believe that these measures are exaggerated, most of whom only support the AfD (57 percent).

Fear of escalation grows

Unlike in February, a majority (67 percent) agrees that arms deliveries to Ukraine are correct. This is rejected by 29 percent of those surveyed. However, most respondents (63 percent) continue to oppose Ukraine’s desire for the delivery of heavy weapons such as tanks. Only 31 percent would approve.

According to the survey, there is great fear of the conflict escalating beyond Ukraine’s borders. Accordingly, 75 percent are afraid that there will be an even bigger war in Europe. 24 percent do not fear that. 67 percent are concerned that Russian President Vladimir Putin could also use nuclear weapons, while 31 percent do not see this danger.

For the “Politbarometer”, the Mannheim research group elections surveyed 1,345 randomly selected voters by telephone from March 8th to 10th, 2022. The error rate in the representative survey is between two and three percent. (AFP)