Germany's Democracy in Action Program Faces Centralization and Far-Right Threats
A recent letter from Germany's Federal Ministry for Family Affairs has thrown hundreds of local democracy projects into doubt. Sent just before Christmas, the announcement outlined major changes to the €200 million Democracy in Action program. The reforms will shift decision-making power away from local groups and towards a centralised authority in Cologne.
The adjustments have sparked concern, particularly in eastern Germany, where far-right influence in local councils could now threaten funding for civic initiatives.
The Democracy in Action program, launched in 2015, has seen growing participation in eastern states like Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. Funding has climbed from an initial €100 million to over €1.2 billion by 2025. Yet despite this investment, support for the far-right AfD remains significantly higher in the east (25-35% in 2025 elections) than in western states (10-15%).
Under the new rules, starting in early 2026, local councils must approve all funding requests before they reach the Cologne-based Federal Office for Family and Civil Society Tasks (BAFzA). Applications will also face a preliminary content review by the office, reducing the role of local expertise. Critics argue this centralisation mirrors past controversies, such as the 2010 extremism clause in the predecessor program, Cohesion Through Participation, which placed democracy projects under blanket suspicion.
The changes have already had consequences. In Thuringia's Greiz district, officials scrapped their Democracy in Action project, citing excessive bureaucracy. Meanwhile, in Bitterfeld-Wolfen, the AfD council group blocked funding and cut staff in the relevant department, forcing one association to abandon its work entirely.
Security authorities, including the domestic intelligence agency (Verfassungsschutz), will now play a larger role in vetting funding recipients—a move that has drawn sharp criticism. Federal Minister Karin Prien's plan has reignited fears of political interference, with the AfD even publishing a guide titled Now Is the Chance to Drain the Swamp. Authored by state lawmaker Daniel Roi and Bundestag member Kay-Uwe Ziegler, the document claims the program benefits 'NGOs and, in some cases, left-wing extremists or Islamists'.
The reforms place local democracy projects at risk, especially in eastern Germany, where the AfD holds strong influence in many councils. With funding approval now dependent on local politicians, many initiatives may struggle to survive. The shift also marks a return to stricter oversight, raising questions about the future of grassroots civic engagement across the country.
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