Open day in the state parliament: A look behind the scenes in Schwerin!

Open day in the state parliament: A look behind the scenes in Schwerin!

Yesterday, on Sunday, June 14, 2025, the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania state parliament experienced an open day that was entirely dedicated to state politics. From 10 a.m., those interested had the opportunity to take a look behind the scenes of the state parliament and experience the work of the representatives up close. NDR reports that the event traditionally takes place on the Sunday of the Schwerin Castle Festival and this year offered a particularly diverse program.

Visitors were able to see not only the brand new conference rooms in the Burgsee wing, but also the plenary hall, the office of the President of the State Parliament and the deliberation rooms for the members of parliament. This was a unique opportunity to gain insights that would otherwise remain hidden. Questions like “What is the President of the State Parliament doing?” or “How does a faction work?” could be discussed directly on site with experts.

Insights into political work

The President of the State Parliament, Birgit Hesse, and various parliamentary groups provided information about their work. State Parliament MV highlights that a total of five factions set up their stands in the castle garden and in front of the castle to give citizens the opportunity to talk to them directly. The discussions, which took place in the plenary hall from 10.30 a.m., were met with great interest.

A special highlight of the day was the opening of the historic swing bridge between the castle island and the castle gardens, which provided an exclusive view of the beautiful gardens for around 20 minutes in the afternoon. There were also numerous attractions - from a tour of the tea pavilion with a view of Lake Schwerin to the castle museum and the castle church, which could be visited free of charge.

Entertainment for all ages

The variety of topics was complemented by a varied supporting program. Politics MV mentioned that program elements such as dance groups, live music from local bands and roundtable discussions with MPs ensured serious and entertaining discussions. The atmosphere was further enlivened by the musical accompaniment from the shanty choir “Luv un Lee” and the band “ATLAS Revival”. An illusion magician and various dance performances topped off the whole thing.

This event attracted over 15,000 visitors who were not only curious, but also enjoyed the atmosphere around Schwerin Castle and the castle gardens. The great interest and lively participation of citizens clearly show that contact with politics is lively and can make a difference.

Overall, the open day not only offers a deep insight into how state politics works, but also underlines how important dialogue between citizens and politics is. It remains to be hoped that future events of this kind will continue to be as successful and that citizens will continue to have their concerns listened to.