Following the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt, Green Party leader Franziska Brantner is calling for a fundamental recalibration of the relationship between citizens and the state. Speaking to “Welt am Sonntag,” she stated that simply defending democracy is not enough; “we must renew it.” She wants to ensure that citizens’ interactions with the government are sources of pride, rather than frustrating battles over bureaucracy.
According to Brantner, the debate is being fueled by the massive acceleration of digital platforms and ever-shorter news cycles. Simultaneously, administration and politics are growing slower, stifled by an excessive focus on individual case solutions. She notes that these two elements are diametrically opposed. To compound the problem, the state often approaches its citizens with initial mistrust. This combination, she concludes, is toxic over the long term.
In contrast, Brantner advocates for an initial presumption of trust in citizens and businesses. Where misconduct occurs-whether involving tax evaders or criminal clans-she argues that control must be targeted and severe. Among other measures, she praised the blanket abolition of reporting requirements planned by the Green-Black coalition in Baden-Württemberg.
