Demokratie in der Zwickmühle | Gefahr des autoritären Populismus

2024 is an election year. Local elections in nine federal states, European elections and state elections in Brandenburg, Saxony and Thuringia. This autumn, the political map in Germany could look very different.
What happens when an authoritarian-populist party gains state power at national level?

Authoritarian populist parties can use democratic opportunities to dismantle the democratic rights of political opponents. Hungary, Poland, the USA and other countries have already shown that they can do this and use the leeway in democratic systems to their own ends. Legitimized by elections, they can do this "in the name of the people". Once in power, they use legal methods with the legitimization of the voters. With a corresponding majority, they can make the constitution less democratic by amending it. But even without such a majority or government participation, authoritarian populist parties in Germany can undermine democracy and the rule of law at federal or state level in a supposedly constitutional manner.

What scenarios do we have to deal with?
How can the resilience of democracy and the rule of law be strengthened at state level?

The Thuringia project is addressing these questions in the run-up to the state elections in Thuringia. Many of the findings are also relevant for other federal states. In April, the project team published seven recommendations for action to close (constitutional) legal loopholes. At the same time, they advocate civilian protection of the constitution: democracy cannot be defended by the judiciary and politicians alone; an informed and critical civil society is essential.
The research team's work has generated a great deal of media attention since the beginning of the year and was awarded a Theodor Heuss Medal in April.

Friedrich Zillessen, editor at Verfassungsblog and research associate in the Thuringia project, will talk about the project's work.
We will then talk to Oliver Hildenbrand, deputy chairman of the Bündnis 90/die Grünen state parliamentary group and spokesperson for domestic policy, about the situation in Baden-Württemberg.