David Ausserhofer
Demokratie Forum Kommunalpolitik 2026 - Zukunft möglich machen
At our third Democracy Forum, held on 2 March 2026 in Berlin, we once again turned our attention to local politics and those involved in it.
Limited scope for action, scarce financial resources, a backlog of investment, pressure to modernise – local authorities face enormous challenges. There is an urgent need for impetus and new avenues for change: through committed individuals, creative ideas and new forms of participation to ensure a sustainable future.
At our Democracy Forum, we therefore brought together over two hundred participants with expertise in local politics and practical experience: from volunteer mayors, local elected representatives and local government staff, to civil society actors and opinion leaders from foundations and NGOs. Together, we asked: How can effective local politics succeed under pressure? And: What does it take to build democratic resilience, ensure effective communication and foster bold local leadership?
Missed the Democracy Forum? You can find highlights and live recordings to watch here:
David Ausserhofer 
David Ausserhofer 
David Ausserhofer 
David Ausserhofer 
David Ausserhofer 
David Ausserhofer 
David Ausserhofer
Begrüßung von Eva Nemela (Vorständin der Körber-Stiftung)
Die Vorständin der Körber-Stiftung Eva Nemela hob in Ihrer Begrüßung hervor, wie zentral die Kommunen für eine funktionierende Demokratie sind und mit welchen Herausforderungen sie gleichzeitig konfrontiert sind.
Keynote speech by Maja Göpel – “Values as a guide to effective local politics”
In her keynote speech, transformation researcher Maja Göpel demonstrates how core democratic values such as equality of opportunity, decency and cooperation can help us remain capable of taking action, even in times of multiple crises. Drawing on her book *Werte* (Values), she advocates for a new understanding of political effectiveness – with greater cooperation, creative solutions and policies that build trust.
Panel: ‘Controversial, visible, vulnerable – Political communication at local government level’
In the first panel discussion, Michel Friedman (journalist), Markus Lewe (Mayor of Münster and former President of the German Association of Cities) and Rasha Nasr (Member of the German Bundestag) spoke with the moderator Sina Fröhndrich (Deutschlandfunk) about the challenges facing political dialogue and the factors behind successful crisis communication.
Panel – Compromise or Chaos? The Challenges of Fragmented Local Politics
The panellists Martin Gross (Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich), Dirk Hilbert (Mayor of Dresden) and Onyeka Oshionwu (honorary mayor of Göttingen) spoke with the moderator Nadine Lindner (Deutschlandfunk) about the increasing fragmentation in local councils.
"Strengthening voluntary work in local politics" – A conversation with Dörte Dinger
In an interview with Sven Tetzlaff (Körber Foundation), Dörte Dinger, State Secretary and Head of the Office of the Federal President, spoke about the importance and challenges of voluntary work in local politics, the importance of good framework conditions, and the need for greater recognition and support for volunteer mayors.
Panel – Resilient Local Authorities – Practical Approaches to Effectively Countering Extremist Representatives
In the panel discussion “Resilient Local Authorities”, Klaus Ritgen (German Association of District Authorities) and Jürgen Weinert (Head of the Municipal Administration Department, Lilienthal) discussed with moderator Nadine Lindner (Deutschlandfunk) about the resilience of local institutions in the face of anti-constitutional efforts, measures such as the exclusion of candidates, and how to deal with extremist elected representatives and officials.
Panel – The Courage to Change – How Can Genuine Innovation Be Achieved in Local Politics?
In the closing panel discussion, Maren Busch (Mayor of the Diez Municipal Association), Florence Gaub (futurist) and Herbert Pieper (Honorary Mayor of the municipality of Wahrenholz) discussed with moderator Marco Seiffert (rbb) on how local politics can become bolder, more creative and more effective – so that innovation does not remain merely a buzzword, but takes concrete shape in the day-to-day work of local government, committees and civil society.
Here you will find the full conference programme
Demokratie Forum Kommunalpolitik 2026
On the podium
Event information
Venue: Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities,
Markgrafenstraße 38, 10117 Berlin
The venue is wheelchair accessible.
Date: Monday, 2 March 2026, 1.30 pm to 8.15 pm.
Doors open at 12.30 pm.
Participation: Attendance at the conference is free of charge. Registration is required.