Germany's Demokratie leben! Faces Cuts, Threatening 200 Democracy Projects
Berlin (dpa) — The federal government's commissioner for eastern Germany, Elisabeth Kaiser (SPD), has criticized plans to cut funding for democracy projects in the former East, warning that dismantling structures built with taxpayer money and volunteer efforts would be difficult to reverse. "Once these networks—created through public funds and immense dedication—are gone, they will be hard to rebuild," Kaiser told the Leipziger Volkszeitung and Sächsische Zeitung (Tuesday). "We cannot afford this in the current climate."
Around 200 projects set to lose funding
The "Demokratie leben!" (Live Democracy!) program has supported hundreds of initiatives promoting democratic values and combating extremism, racism, and antisemitism since 2014. This year, roughly €190 million is available for such projects.
Family Minister Karin Prien (CDU) announced that funding for around 200 of the several hundred projects will expire at year's end, with grant guidelines under review. Criticism of the overhaul has come not only from the Greens and the Left Party but also from the coalition partner SPD.
Kaiser: Volunteers need reliable support
Kaiser stressed that activists—especially in economically struggling regions—require "backing and a dependable outlook, or they will give up." She added, "This is particularly true for eastern Germany, where civil society and democratic parties are significantly weaker."
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