World
Germany: Minister Prien Overhauls 'Demokratie leben!' and Stops 200 Projects
Germany's federal 'Demokratie leben!' program, with an annual budget of approximately 190 million euros, is undergoing a major overhaul. Federal Minister Karin Prien (CDU) plans to prematurely end around 200 projects by the end of 2026. Funding will shift from civil society initiatives toward 'regular structures' such as schools, sports associations, and volunteer fire departments. The 'Innovationsprojekte' subprogram, which financed diversity objectives, will not be continued. This debate was published in DIE ZEIT on July 27, 2026.