Free voters in Saxony see themselves at a disadvantage once again

The Free Voters (FW) once again feel disadvantaged by the State Center for Political Education. This is because they have once again not received an invitation to participate in the election forums for the Bundestag elections. The Free Voters have once again been excluded from the public opinion-forming process in Saxony and have called on decision-makers to rethink their approach.

Principle of graduated equality of opportunity

The state center is guided in its selection by the "principle of graduated equality of opportunity": It provides for a differentiated approach to the parties depending on their importance. The most important criterion is a party's previous election result; other factors include the length of time it has been in existence, its number of members and its presence in parliaments and governments. Opinion polls also play a role in the run-up to an election.

Free voters believe that the principle of selection fails to reflect reality

According to Anselm Meyer, Vice Chairman of the FW in Saxony, the principle of graduated equality of opportunity fails to reflect the reality of society as a whole and the challenge of developing a vibrant democracy. Democracy can only thrive sustainably where it is made visible and discussed at the lowest level of state political action - starting with local councils.

FW see evidence of low respect for local representation

The FW claim that they are very strongly represented at local level. "Unfortunately, however, the renewed exclusion of the Free Voters is an unmistakable sign of how little respect the media and unfortunately also the State Center for Political Education have for the relevance of small and supposedly subordinate municipal representations, committees and offices," they said.

Meyer considers it a scandal that they are being denied a voice: "This strengthens the 'top' and weakens the 'bottom'." This is also a reason for the division in society.