The focus is on democracy: Seibeld talks about political education in Berlin

The focus is on democracy: Seibeld talks about political education in Berlin

On July 3, 2025, the podcast "We have the choice" was published, in which state election manager Prof. Dr. Stephan Bröchler and Cornelia Seibeld, President of the House of Representatives of Berlin, examine central issues on the role of the state parliament and the importance of state politics for democracy. In this discussion, Seibeld emphasizes how important the proximity of state politics is to the citizens of Berlin and explains that parliaments have to play a central role in political education. In her opinion, it is essential to make politics and democracy visible in order to raise the consciousness of the population.

In the podcast, Seibeld emphasizes the need to understand democracy as a constantly fought value. It explains that democracy must be defensive and should also deal with extreme political problems. In her opinion, however, Germany lives in a solid democracy in which the importance of freedom, democracy and the rule of law is recognized. Bröchler adds that democracy is not a matter of course and that stable institutions and trust in the election process are essential.

political education and its relevance

The central role of political education in state politics is considered by various perspectives. In this context, the state policy conditions in Germany are also discussed. Landtag elections determine the composition of the state parliament and usually take place every four to five years. The participation of citizens is crucial to promote democratic culture and to strengthen social cohesion, such as in the different federal states, where interesting election developments took place.

• 2019 took place in four federal states that had a decisive influence on the political landscape.
• in Thuringia the Left Party became the strongest force, but lost the majority of its coalition.
• In Hessen there were severe losses for the CDU and SPD, while Greens and AfD recorded profits.
• The turnout in North Rhine-Westphalia was 65.2%, which shows that topics such as education, internal security and economy moved voters.

democracy education as a key to participation

The development of a culture of political participation is particularly relevant, which aims to actively involve citizens in democratic processes. In this context, promoting democracy education plays a crucial role. This education is not only necessary for the acceptance of the democratic basic order, but also for the ability of citizens to develop political participation. Current projects such as the "monitor democracy education" and the competition "act democratically" show how important it is to conduct a dialogue about democratic values ​​and to include young people in this process.

Finally, it can be stated that the podcast with Cornelia Seibeld is a valuable initiative in order to stimulate the citizens of Berlin to think about the importance of democracy and political education. The podcast is available on the website and the YouTube channel of the state election manager and is aimed at all interested parties around the topic of elections in Berlin. The examination of political issues is crucial for strengthening democracy and for an active citizens' dialogue.