Why lie in a deck chair on the Baltic Sea beach when you can also do it in the garden of the Chancellery? That’s what many people in Berlin thought on Sunday – and used the federal government’s open day to get a taste of the government district. In the hot summer weather, one or the other visitor also took a short break in the Chancellery.
Not only the control center of power was open to the citizens, but also many ministries. Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) also answered questions from guests in his house, such as Hubertus Heil (SPD) in the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. There was a great rush everywhere.
Jazz and citizen dialogue at the open day
At Heil, there was first jazz music and then serious issues such as discrimination in the workplace, the reform of the Equal Treatment Act or immigration and securing skilled workers during the citizens’ discussion. The visitors proved to be well prepared, Heil was close to the audience. “Yes, we have problems to solve,” he admitted. “We need more people who are committed to our country’s democracy, they’re not just politicians.”
Overall, the mood remained matter-of-fact and peaceful despite the sensitive issues. It only got louder when the Minister of Social Affairs spoke about his hometown. “Peine,” echoed approvingly from the audience.
It was the last day of this year’s open day of the federal government. Every year, the government gives citizens the opportunity to obtain comprehensive information about their work and – at least a little – to look behind the scenes of politics.