The German government’s commissioner for eastern affairs, Elisabeth Kaiser, has emphasized the need for intensified efforts to support structurally weaker regions. In an interview with “ARD Interview der Woche” she underscored the importance of fostering equitable living conditions across eastern Germany, while stressing that any political initiatives must also benefit comparable areas in the western part of the country facing similar challenges.
Kaiser highlighted a persistent widening of disparities in income, wealth and representation. Her stated role is to draw attention to areas requiring improvement and to avoid fostering a sense of alarm. “We need to consider solutions and what measures we can take to address these issues” she stated.
Reflecting on the legacy of the former German Democratic Republic and the experiences of those navigating the post-reunification era, Kaiser described them as a shared inheritance. She believes these factors continue to shape perspectives, attitudes and opportunities. This historical context, she observed, contributes to comparatively lower levels of institutional trust and party affiliation in eastern Germany. Consequently, populist forces are often able to exploit anxieties during times of crisis. Kaiser argued that policymakers have a responsibility to alleviate those fears instead of amplifying them. She expressed a desire for greater utilization of the resilience and adaptability born from the experiences of the east during periods of significant change.