Unfiltered, open-ended conversation: Three State Ministers launch Citizen Dialogue Forums across Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
Ministers initiate Public Discussion Platforms across Regions - Meetings planned nationwide - Ministers initiate citizen discussion platforms across all regions
Get ready, citizens of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania! Three ministers are kick-starting a series of citizen dialogues this Monday, with forums happening in Schwerin, Rehna, and Stralsund. This initiative is part of the "State Government on Site" action, where the cabinet tours the state annually. This year, citizens from all regions will have the chance to engage in three-day events.
In Rehna, Interior Minister Christian Pegel (SPD), responsible for construction, digitization, and interior affairs, will tackle citizens' questions. This meeting promises to be an open, unstructured forum, as per the ministry's announcement. In recent years, topics such as refugee policy, internal security, and slow progress in digitization have come up during the interior ministry's sessions.
In Stralsund, Economics Minister Wolfgang Blank (independent) will share insights on state programs designed to support start-ups and company foundations. Compared to other federal states, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's start-up scene remains relatively weak, with only 15 out of 2,766 start-ups founded in Germany in 2024 coming from the region, according to start-up association data.
Meanwhile in Schwerin, Agriculture and Environment Minister Till Backhaus (SPD) will delve into discussions on water and coastal protection, along with the effects of climate change. Farmers and towns are feeling the heat of global warming, with droughts and increasing storm surges along the coasts. Schwerin itself flooded knee-deep in the summer of 2019 as a result of heavy rain. To cope with these changes, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is working on a state water strategy.
On Tuesday, Manuela Schwesig (SPD), Minister President, will engage in discussions with citizens in Friedland, Jacqueline Bernhardt (Left) will do the same in Ludwigslust, and Stefanie Drese (SPD) will meet citizens in Rostock. On Wednesday, Heiko Geue will discuss finances in Greifswald, Bettina Martin (both SPD) will tackle science in Güstrow, and Tom Scheidung (replacing the absent Minister Simone Oldenburg, Left) will discuss education in Stavenhagen.
Citizens interested in participating can register for one of the forums at https://www.regierungmv.de/buergerforum. Five events are planned in each district and in both independent cities, with two events scheduled in the large district of Mecklenburgische Seenplatte. The government members will be eager to answer your questions, provide suggestions, and share updates on their respective areas of focus.
With current political trends and challenges in mind, expect discussions on economic development, infrastructure, bureaucracy simplification, and social welfare. Stay informed, and make sure to check local government offices or official event calendars for updates on these exciting citizen dialogues. After all, your voice matters!
[1]: Current political trends and challenges in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania include the rise of the AfD and infrastructural issues. Potential topics of discussion for these citizen dialogues may focus on supporting small businesses, improving rural infrastructure, and enhancing tourism and agriculture to boost the regional economy, among others. Citizens can register for specific events on official event websites.
- With the rise of the AfD and infrastructural issues in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, citizens may discuss potential solutions for supporting small businesses and improving rural infrastructure during the Citizen Dialogue Forums.
- In addition to discussing the regional economy, the citizen dialogues in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania may also cover topics like enhancing tourism and agriculture, as well as streamlining bureaucracy and improving social welfare.
- As digitization remains a concern in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, citizens may address this issue during their meetings with Interior Minister Christian Pegel, Minister of Economics Wolfgang Blank, and other government officials launching the Citizen Dialogue Forums.
