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35 Years of Democracy in Weißenfels – A Festival of Self-DeceptionOn May 6, 2025, the city of Weißenfels plans to commemorate the first free local elections in the GDR with a formal event. The press release for the memorial ceremony reads like a convenient retrospective on a democratic awakening that once inspired hope for participation, civic will, and political integrity. But anyone looking closely today can see: the democracy celebrated 35 years ago has for years been systematically hollowed out by those in power—under the guise of alleged stability, lack of alternatives, governmental responsibility, and the protection of democracy.  Democracy Under Attack – From WithinThis is not about an external threat, but rather a slow erosion of democratic principles by the very parties that once set out to protect them. Instead of a culture of debate, we witness coalition arithmetic; instead of political responsibility, we see committee showdowns; instead of voter representation, we get party discipline. Politicians who defy party lines and resist factional dictates are publicly reprimanded or sidelined. Parliamentary oversight, a cornerstone of the separation of powers, is increasingly reduced to a political fig leaf.The Farce of the Voter’s WillThis development became particularly glaring after the last federal election. The CDU, in particular, campaigned with grandiose promises. But barely had the applause from the rallies faded when those promises were broken in quick succession. The message to the voter: Your voice is welcome—as long as it isn’t taken seriously.This disregard for the sovereign is no longer the exception—it’s systemic. Citizens’ participation in democratic processes is reduced to the ritualized checkmark on a ballot paper, whose significance now approaches zero. The political circus especially orchestrated by the chairman of the Weißenfels city council since November, aiming to deliberately hinder or entirely prevent video recordings of council meetings—with the silent consent of the vast majority of council members—vividly reveals the authoritarian self-image that has now taken root even at the local level. The handling of citizen inquiries is no less revealing: public participation is not only ignored but actively obstructed. Citizen surveys or referenda on far-reaching projects like the Intermunicipal Industrial Area (IKIG) or the planned correctional facility are categorically rejected—with the transparent excuse that the population is intellectually overwhelmed by such decisions. Apparently, the political caste sees itself as the only competent authority—morally superior, technically untouchable, and democratically unassailable. What is labeled as democracy is, in truth, nothing more than a claim to rule from above—with citizens as mere extras. Weißenfels: Remembrance as DistractionAgainst this backdrop, the planned commemorative event in Weißenfels appears like an ironic footnote of current politics. When veteran and young politicians solemnly speak there about the “importance of democratic participation,” it is not out of a sense of responsibility, but from the desire to use past ideals as an alibi for present failure. The invitation to discuss democracy is welcome—but as long as this discussion takes place only in symbolic panels and not in real reforms, it remains a farce.In the end, the cynical impression remains: Weißenfels is not celebrating democracy—but exhibiting its corpse. And while the speakers in the town hall nostalgically rave about the “courage of the citizens,” that courage has been dying a slow, politically induced death for years outside. Those who still have the courage to publicly criticize these conditions are defamed, ignored, and ostracized. Press Release of the City of WeißenfelsWeißenfels, April 30, 2025 Commemorating a Historic Date: 35 Years Since the First Free Local Elections in Weißenfels On May 6, 2025, the city of Weißenfels will commemorate the first free local elections in the GDR in 1990 with a public event—a historic turning point marking the beginning of democratic self-government in East Germany. The event will take place at 6 p.m. in the council chamber of the Weißenfels town hall and will honor the commitment and courage of the citizens who, in the spring of 1990, campaigned for a democratic renewal of their towns and communities. Thirty-five years ago—on May 6, 1990—citizens of the GDR were able to elect their local representatives freely and without state control for the first time since 1933. The local election was not only an expression of the people’s sovereign will but also a significant step toward achieving the goals of the Peaceful Revolution. It marked the beginning of the revival of local self-government—a fundamental pillar of any functioning democracy. On this anniversary, the city of Weißenfels invites all interested citizens to join in remembering this milestone in German democratic history and to discuss the importance of democratic participation at the local level. The event will begin with a welcome by Mayor Martin Papke. Following this, theologian, educator, and author Lothar Tautz will give the keynote speech. Tautz was active in opposition groups in the GDR, played a central role at the Round Table in Weißenfels in 1989, and was later awarded the Federal Cross of Merit, among other honors. Another highlight of the event is a panel discussion moderated by Maik Reichel, Director of the State Center for Political Education of Saxony-Anhalt. Panelists will include Giesela Bevier, deputy chair of the first freely elected city council in 1990 and former mayor of Weißenfels; Lothar Tautz as a contemporary witness; Mariam G. Ghebregergis, a young political scientist from Weißenfels with an international perspective; and Johannes Beleites, State Commissioner for the Reappraisal of the SED Dictatorship in Saxony-Anhalt. Together, they will discuss the significance of democratic participation then and now. Welcome: Martin Papke, Mayor of the City of Weißenfels Keynote: Lothar Tautz, Dipl.-Päd., Theologian, Pastor, Author (Pioneer of the Peace Movement, Round Table 1989 in Weißenfels, Federal Cross of Merit recipient) Panel Discussion Moderator: Maik Reichel, Director of the State Center for Political Education of Saxony-Anhalt Participants: Giesela Bevier, Deputy Chair of the City Council in 1990, former Mayor of Weißenfels Lothar Tautz, Theologian, Contemporary Witness Mariam G. Ghebregergis, Political Scientist, Intern at Green New Deal International Johannes Beleites, State Commissioner for the Reappraisal of the SED Dictatorship in Saxony-Anhalt Author: Американский искусственный интеллект / AI Translation - Anja Köhler, Abteilung Marketing, Stadt Weißenfels | 02.05.2025 |
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