Initiative: Steinmeier: Unable to act damages democracy

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has warned of damage to democracy by a lack of action by the state. “If people get the impression that the state and its institutions no longer do what they promise and what you can rightly expect as a citizen and citizen, it is more than individual annoyances,” said Steinmeier in Berlin. “Then political trust in our democratic order is eroding. And it is clear that we have to prevent that.”

Steinmeier spoke at the final event of the initiative for a capable of action, the patron of which he is. The initiative was launched last year by the manager and publisher Julia Jäkel, the former president of the Federal Constitutional Court, Andreas Voßkuhle, former Federal Minister of the Interior Thomas de Maizière (CDU) and the former Federal Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück (SPD). You want to present your final report in the afternoon.

Reforms needed far beyond mere reduction in bureaucracy

“Our democracy is becoming stronger and resilient if we make our state better, faster, citizens,” emphasized the Federal President. A comprehensive reform and modernization of the state – “far beyond mere reduction in bureaucracy” is necessary.

Germany is in a “structural crisis,” said Voßkuhle. “In order to regain the trust of the citizens to the state’s ability to act, extensive reforms are therefore required. This is clear.” Voßkuhle warned: “If not first successes become visible in this legislative period, we are sure that we are sure to harm our democracy.”