Overview
- A Forsa survey for Stern/RTL finds 64% oppose merging federal states, 30% support it and 6% are undecided, based on 1,008 interviews conducted Jan. 15–16 with a ±3 percentage-point margin of error.
- Resistance is broad across regions, including 67% opposition in Bavaria, with 61% in North Rhine-Westphalia and 69% in Baden-Württemberg against, and no measurable difference between East and West.
- Söder argues larger states would perform better and cites Bavaria’s heavy payments into the financial equalization system, but he has not named specific states for mergers.
- SPD parliamentary leader Matthias Miersch says the required two‑thirds majorities in both Bundestag and Bundesrat are not available, characterizing the push as a typical Söder move.
- CDU regional figures Gordon Schnieder and Sven Schulze also reject the idea, saying bigger units would not fix structural problems, and no legislative steps toward reorganization have been initiated.