Oliver Schenk calls for openness to problems in the country

Saxony's State Chancellor Oliver Schenk has spoken out in favor of an open approach to problems in the state in light of critical survey results from the Saxony Monitor. "If our institutions have lost credibility, then that is an alarm signal for all of us. The institutions stand for the rules of the game that we have set ourselves in our country. If the institutions lose credibility, it means a loss of trust in our rules of the game," said the CDU politician in the Saxon state parliament on Thursday.

The success of the state is measured by solving real problems and overcoming very specific challenges that affect people's everyday lives, emphasized Schenk: "We must clearly name the problems of the people in this country. There is no point in not addressing existing problems out of fear of support from the wrong people. In the end, that only benefits the populists and extremists. Divided in color, united as democrats," Schenk summed it up.

"Despite all the challenges. We should always be aware and not be swayed by targeted negative influence: We are a strong country, we are a strong democracy, we have a strong constitutional state, we have a strong welfare state, we have strong, smart and committed people." The challenges could be mastered on this foundation.

The occasion for the remarks was a debate in the state parliament's topical hour, which dealt with the mood in the Free State. Schenk recalled the protests by farmers and the demonstrations against right-wing extremism and for democracy. People were concerned and did not want "a free, philanthropic and democratic state to become a closed, fierce state that treats foreigners with blanket suspicion and open disdain", he said.

He also referred to the results of the Saxony Monitor - a representative survey of citizens in the state that is conducted every two years. It had recently revealed a sharp decline in trust in politics and institutions. For example, 82 percent of Saxons had little or no trust in the traffic light coalition. 85 percent no longer trusted the media. 79 percent have lost faith in the churches. The EU Parliament and the European Commission were not trusted by 80 percent of respondents.