The German Federal Ministry of the Interior, led by Alexander Dobrindt of the CSU, has decided to cancel the funding for the democracy project run by the group “Radikale Töchter” (Radical Daughters). A ministry spokesperson confirmed to the newspaper “taz” that the support request was denied, but said the ministry would not comment on individual evaluations.
According to documents cited by “taz”, the project had already received a provisional approval in spring 2025. The “Radikale Töchter” had applied for funding from the federal program “Zusammenhalt durch Teilhabe” (Cohesion through Participation), which is administered by the Federal Agency for Civic Education (Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung, BZgP). In March 2025, the BZgP had preliminarily endorsed the project and approved its start, pending the final budget decision.
However, in a decree issued by the Interior Ministry in January of this year, BZgP was ordered to refuse the funding. The agency is said to have responded in an internal memorandum, expressing “significant legal concerns regarding the implementation of this decree” because the substantive review had already been completed. Despite this, the Interior Ministry has maintained its decision.
A ministry spokesperson explained that the ultimate decision on funding for the federal program lies with the Interior Ministry and that the cabinet reserves the right to set its own priorities for the current funding period of the “Zusammenhalt durch Teilhabe” program.
Cesy Leonard, the managing director of “Radikale Töchter” has linked the decision to her criticism of Chancellor Friedrich Merz. She called the loss of funding without explanation a “scandal” and argued that a strong democracy must be able to tolerate criticism without punishment. Leonard accused the government of deliberately dismantling democratic engagement. The group has now filed an appeal against the rejected funding.