Divergent Views Emerge within Bundestag Committee on Citizen-Initiated Referendums
A lack of consensus is hindering progress on the potential expansion of citizen-initiated referendums within the German Bundestag, as revealed by differing opinions among members of the Petitions Committee. While the concept sparks debate about democratic participation, starkly contrasting viewpoints are surfacing, reflecting wider political divisions within the parliament.
Andreas Mattfeldt, spokesperson for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, acknowledged the absence of a unified stance within the committee, emphasizing a “very restrictive” approach from his faction. He stated that the Union generally opposes the implementation of referendums, suggesting a reluctance to relinquish direct parliamentary control. This cautious stance contrasts with growing public calls for increased citizen involvement in policymaking.
The issue currently holds little prominence in the committee’s daily agenda, according to Daniela Rump, parliamentary secretary for the SPD. However, the underlying tensions regarding the appropriate level of public engagement are clearly visible.
The AfD has adopted a distinctly different position, advocating for referendums modeled after the Swiss system. Manfred Schiller, AfD parliamentary secretary, asserted that this approach is embedded within the party’s core principles. However, he questioned the role of the Petitions Committee itself in driving such initiatives, hinting at bureaucratic hurdles and potential limitations on parliamentary prerogative.
Notably, the Green Party’s Corinna Rüffer proposed a different pathway for strengthening citizen participation. Rather than focusing solely on direct referendums, she advocated for enhancing the effectiveness of the petition process. Rüffer suggested exploring a fusion of the petition system with citizen assemblies, a concept gaining traction as a means of fostering deliberative democracy and generating policy recommendations.
Sören Pellmann, parliamentary secretary for the Left Party, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the potential of citizen assemblies. Pellmann argued that politicians need to be far more responsive to public feedback, emphasizing the importance of translating public opinion into concrete political action. He suggested that a greater focus on utilizing the insights generated by citizen assemblies could prove more effective in addressing democratic disillusionment and driving political change than solely relying on citizen-initiated referendums.
The contrasting viewpoints within the Petitions Committee underscore a broader struggle within German politics: how to balance parliamentary sovereignty with the growing demands for increased citizen participation and a more responsive, deliberative democratic process.