Leading representatives from all federal ministries met at the Federal Ministry of the Interior on Monday morning. The meeting, initiated by Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) and Education Minister Karin Prien (CDU), was convened to discuss the future strategy for democracy promotion within the coalition government.
The central issue causing the meeting was a dispute regarding Prien’s planned revamp of the “Demokratie leben” (Democracy Live) program. Critiques suggest that these structural changes could lead to the cancellation of numerous ongoing projects already funded under the program. To address the controversy, the attendees reportedly established an inter-ministerial working group aimed at finding solutions to resolve the conflict.
While Prien’s restructuring plans were controversial to various stakeholders, they also drew criticism from the Social Democratic coalition partner. Elisabeth Kaiser, the Federal Eastern Representative (SPD), who also participated in the meeting, strongly defended the affected initiatives. She stated to the press that those who dedicate themselves to democracy at the local level require reliable support and vision, warning that otherwise, they will abandon their efforts. Kaiser confirmed her strong support for the actors and initiatives involved in the program.
