German Politician Warns Against Overreliance on Social Media in Resolving Political Debates
Bodo Ramelow, the Vice President of the German Bundestag, has expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of social media in resolving the country’s deep-seated political divisions. “Believing that all we need is another TikTok channel to solve the problem is not the solution” he told the Welt newspaper.
Ramelow’s party, the Left, surprised many by emerging as a “star of the Bundestag election” with a strategy that included a strong online presence. However, he clarified that his own involvement in social media was limited to trusting and allowing younger colleagues to manage the party’s online presence on his behalf. “It’s not my world” he said, emphasizing the need for new approaches to break down the entrenched positions and closed-off spaces in German politics.
Ramelow believes that more direct democracy and more citizen votes are necessary to revitalize the country’s political landscape. “The panic fear that a referendum would lead to bad sentiment only perpetuates the bad sentiment” he said, urging more courage in embracing direct democracy. “We need to break down the barriers and take more risks.”
The politician also spoke about the numerous online attacks and threats he has faced, including a recent murder threat against him and his family. “There are situations where I must protect my soul” he said, acknowledging that he has learned to cope with online abuse but has limits. “I’ve always taken a lot, but when it comes to the family, it becomes unbearable” he emphasized.