Volker Ullrich, the acting president of the Federal Agency for Civic Education (Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung), is actively addressing the growing threats against democracy in Germany. He asserted in an interview with “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” that “Democracy needs democrats-that is, people who form their own opinions and contribute to democratic discourse.”
Ullrich described the Federal Agency as a significant partner in this effort, emphasizing its mission to provide citizens with well-informed content on politically relevant matters. “It is an intellectual constitution protection authority,” he stated. This institution, which employs over 400 people and is based in Bonn, operates with strict party-political neutrality, bound only by the Basic Law. This commitment includes upholding the fundamental rights, the dignity of human beings, and the principles of democracy, the rule of law, the federal state, and the social state.
The president noted a decreasing level of confidence in democracy, its institutions, and the political system’s ability to act. He argued that this confidence is being challenged by both populist and authoritarian forces, adding, “We at the Federal Agency are determined to meet this challenge.”
In response to these threats, Ullrich announced new strategic priorities for the agency’s work. He confirmed that the Federal Agency engages with “extremism of every kind,” noting that far-right extremism remains a crucial focus due to its threat to the liberal democratic basic order. However, the agency plans to intensify its focus on Islamism and left-wing extremism. The latter area is of historical significance, particularly as 2027 marks the 50th anniversary of the German Autumn, a period characterized by the country’s largest left-wing terrorist threat.
The former CSU Member of the Bundestag is serving as the Federal Agency’s Vice President but has held the leadership role since early August until further notice. He succeeded Sönke Rix, a former SPD Member of the Bundestag, who resigned the post at the end of July for “personal reasons.” The Federal Agency is supervised by the federal Interior Ministry, which is led by the CSU.
