The Green Party faction in the German Bundestag has introduced a motion calling for a suspension of the announced overhaul of the “Democracy Life” program until the scientific evaluation currently underway is completed.
According to reports detailing the motion, the Green faction argues that it is incomprehensible to restructure a program so extensively before the evaluation concludes. They warn that such actions risk weakening functional and effective structures, particularly while other areas receive funding whose efficacy is not sufficiently proven. The faction stresses that such far-reaching decisions regarding the use of public funds should not be taken in haste or without scientific guidance.
The Greens criticize the program’s foundation, pointing out that interventions into the system lack a professionally grounded basis. During the speech, Deputy Green faction chair Misbah Khan added that the original program, launched in 2014, seems driven by ideological priorities rather than technically sound policy. She emphasized the program’s continued importance for providing democratic educational work and consulting services, especially in structurally weak and rural areas, where it often represents one of the few stable funding structures available.
Khan further accused the federal government of casting an “unwarranted suspicion on civil society”. Instead of providing reliable planning security to civil initiatives, functioning structures are being undermined by what she termed “politically motivated quick decisions”. She stated that this action compromises precisely the groups that dedicate their time daily to combating extremism and promoting social cohesion. Therefore, the faction concluded that federal funding programs must not become instruments for ideological profiling. Instead, any responsible use of public money must be based on scientific evidence, demonstrated effectiveness, and the actual challenges faced on the ground, rather than partisan political motives.