Survey Finds Low Support for Claims Against Foreign Doctors and Skilled Workers

The rejection was particularly clear on statements about foreign skilled workers. Only 17 percent agreed with the statement that foreign doctors are often hardly suitable to properly treat German citizens due to "language difficulties" and "different cultural origins. Just 16 percent supported the claim that recruiting skilled workers "from foreign cultures leads to problems and endangers patients' well-being, for example in the health and care sectors.

Several school policy demands also failed to find a clear majority. Only 24 percent supported the demand that teachers should no longer be allowed to discuss their own opinions when students express theirs. 31 percent backed additional complaint options for parents and students.

Support was somewhat higher for positions on dealing with the churches. 44 percent agreed that churches cannot claim a special status through the collection of church tax and state benefits. 37 percent supported the demand that church tax revenue should only be used for personnel costs and building maintenance in the future. According to RTL and n-tv, 1,007 people were surveyed nationwide on August 13 and 14.