The Green Party finds the plans proposed by Family Minister Karin Prien (CDU)-which involve boosting deradicalization programs with another five million euros-to be inadequate. According to Misbah Khan, the party’s deputy faction leader, allocating additional funds for deradicalization is fundamentally necessary and correct. However, she stressed that effective counter-extremism efforts must primarily invest resources where radicalization first occurs, rather than solely where its consequences must be managed. Khan pointed out that every euro dedicated to prevention ultimately saves society a multiple of these subsequent financial and social costs.
Khan simultaneously criticized the proposed reorganization of the “Demokratie leben” (Living Democracy) program. She argued that mere announcements are insufficient; what matters are strong political priorities. She stated that the proposals would be more convincing if they were backed by active policy support that did not destabilize or call into question existing work and structures.
Furthermore, she emphasized that offering an extra five million euros in one area is not enough if proven, successful structures for democratic promotion are being undermined, restructured, or weakened financially. Khan noted that the organizations operating under “Demokratie leben” have successfully conducted years of preventive work against far-right extremism, Islamism, queerphobia, and other forms of group-based hatred. Therefore, this essential work requires stability and reliability, not continual uncertainty.
