Vice-chair Misbah Khan from the Greens faction has dismissed criticism regarding the federal funding program “Democracy Lives”. Speaking to Der Welt, Khan stated that the number of supported associations and local initiatives emerging from the broad center of society is sufficient. She added that the accusation leveled at a large portion of these actors-that they are inherently left-green skewed-is inaccurate.
Khan commented on Education Minister Karin Prien (CDU), who intends to fundamentally restructure the program. She remarked, “However, if it is constantly asserted that anyone who advocates against group-based hostility is inherently left-green skewed, then I can understand why a conservative like Ms. Prien feels compelled to act”.
Furthermore, Khan criticized the proposal to grant local council parliaments greater input over individual projects within the larger scope of the “Partnership for Democracy” area of the “Democracy Lives” program in the future. She argued that this would amount to a hindrance to the existing structure, especially given that right-wing extremist actors are already present and currently block democracy projects. If the intention is, as with Prien, to exert greater influence in rural areas, this structure would be detrimental. She emphasized that the current organizational setup, which involves both administrative bodies and civil society actors in deciding project funding, actually constitutes a strength because it often allows students to participate in the decision-making process.