Volks sheath: The path to more participation in politics!

Volks sheath: The path to more participation in politics!

On January 28, 2025, there is a critical look at the upcoming event "Political Navi", which will take place on February 3, 2025. In a reader letter that was written by the "Voice for Volkscase" group, it is denounced that Franz-Josef Schulte, the direct candidate in constituency 149, and his colleague Axel Turck, who runs in constituency 148, were not invited to the event. This raises questions about the equal treatment of all political forces.

The senders of the letter express the desire to also participate in the event and criticize the perceived unequal treatment. The invited guests, especially the large parties, benefit from a acquisition of benefits. The authors of the letter emphasize the need for a democratic dialogue that should also include the votes of the political opponents. It is pointed out that an actually democratic discourse can only result from an open exchange. localdirekt.de reports that such a practice that excludes smaller parties endangers the diversity and representation in the political discussion.

referendum and their relevance

The topic of referendums is particularly relevant in Germany, especially before the upcoming federal election on February 23, 2025. The “Voice for Volkscap” campaign aims to demand nationwide referendum through the first voice. The second vote remains reserved for the choice of the preferred party and its top candidates.

A central concern of this initiative is the public pressure on political parties that have been blocking referendums for 75 years. Article 20 (2) of the Basic Law ensures the right to vote and thus a direct participation of the citizens. The initiative criticizes the ongoing party rule and demands that referendums are considered as a solution to numerous political problems. Information on this is provided in public information meetings from June to December 2024, while the project group BTW2025-future coordinates applications for 299 constituencies. u-fv.de offers further contact options for interested citizens.

advantages and disadvantages of referendums

referendums are described as procedures of direct democracy, in which citizens vote directly on political questions, in contrast to elections in which they choose representatives. They can take place at the national or regional level and often affect important social or constitutional questions. Traditionally, referendums are rather rare in Germany and take place more often at the state level. The structure and implementation of referendums often requires a minimum number of signatures.

The advantages of referendums are in the promotion of citizen participation and strengthening democracy. They increase the transparency of political processes and bind the citizens directly in decisions. Nevertheless, there are also disadvantages, such as the complexity of political issues that citizens can overwhelm. There is also the possibility that populist positions gain in importance, which can lead to social division. Studysmarter.de represents these aspects in detail.