Federal Education Minister Karin Prien (CDU) has announced plans to overhaul the government's flagship democracy promotion initiative, "Demokratie Leben" (Democracy Lives), with over 200 funded projects set to lose their support at the end of the year. "The ratio of funds deployed to results is not right," Prien told the Welt am Sonntag. "Despite high motivation and dedicated grassroots work, the program objectives are either not being met or not being met in a sustainable way."
Launched in 2015, the federal program "Demokratie Leben" aims to strengthen civil society engagement and promote a diverse, democratic culture of coexistence. Part of its mandate also includes countering radicalization and polarization in society. The program is administered by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, and the 2026 federal budget has allocated 191 million euros for it.
Within the federal government, particularly among members of the CDU/CSU, there has been long-standing criticism of the program and growing skepticism about whether the funds are being used effectively. "Societal challenges are not being reflected in the program, or not adequately so," Prien stated in the Welt am Sonntag. Her ministry's position is clear: "We want to continue what has proven itself, discontinue what has not, and reform what needs reforming."
The ministry plans to discontinue two specific program streams: the development of a nationwide central infrastructure, which covers projects of Germany-wide significance, as well as the so-called innovation projects, which were designed to reach new target groups.
According to information obtained by the Welt am Sonntag, the organizations affected include prominent bodies such as the Amadeu Antonio Foundation, the Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation Germany (BUND), the association HateAid, investigative media outlet Correctiv, the Central Council of Jews in Germany, and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.
In place of these organizations, Prien intends to place greater emphasis on institutions that are already active at the local level and deeply embedded in communities. Rather than relying on non-governmental organizations, political foundations, and associations specifically created for democracy promotion, the reformed program is expected to involve schools and vocational schools, volunteer fire brigades, sports clubs, groups like the rural youth organization Landjugend, and public libraries. The digital prevention of online radicalization is also set to receive significantly more funding than before.
Minister Prien also announced that the success of funded projects will in future be assessed independently and on a scientific basis. "The measurable contribution to social cohesion is what counts," said Prien. "What matters is the actual impact, a more in-depth measurement of effectiveness." Notably, this evaluation process will no longer be carried out by institutions that are themselves funded by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, marking a departure from past practice.
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