Voters demand: Political debates must become more polite and objective!

Voters demand: Political debates must become more polite and objective!

The current mood shows that the population has a strong need for respectful and objective public debates. In a survey, numerous participants agreed: Political disputes should not end in mudslinging, but should be understood as an exchange of positions. The opinion of Susann (29) from the Zwickau district particularly stands out. She calls for a responsible approach to the culture of debate and warns against emotional escalations. Your summary: Good debates are the basis for democratic participation and should be conducted clearly and respectfully. [MDR].

So what is the general mood like? We receive a reassuring perspective from Wolfgang (71) from Magdeburg: Political disputes should not become personal. Maximilian (29) from Jena, on the other hand, emphasizes the importance of public debates within coalitions in order to create transparency. At a time when political discourse is often characterized by polarization, as was also discussed at the “Werkraum Democracy 2025” event, these voices are particularly valuable.

The challenge of the polarized debate culture

Current social discourses are characterized by sharp tones and emotional camp formation. Politicians often find themselves forced to act in a climate characterized by waves of digital outrage. The event highlighted worrying connections between social media usage behavior and the quality of political discussions. Emotional dynamics take over, while factual arguments increasingly fade into the background. Julia Reuschenbach, political scientist from the Free University of Berlin, calls for a better culture of debate that promotes real conversations and does not divide. Participants in the debate see the need to focus on respectful listening rather than quickly positioning themselves.

Another panelist, Philipp Lorenz-Spreen from the Max Planck Institute, emphasizes that social media algorithms often favor content that has high interaction rates. This can lead to a further intensification of the political debate and poses challenges for democracy. As Beate (55) from the Saale district also states, internal discussions should be held in order not to overwhelm citizens.

Open questions in political discourse

The survey also shows that opinions on Chancellor Merz's choice of words vary greatly depending on age and gender. Some of those surveyed see political debates as an opportunity for more citizen participation, while others criticize the fact that public disputes are getting out of hand. Heiko (56) from Börde in particular warns about the susceptibility of these public debates to speculation.

What remains undisputed, however, is the fact that an objective, respectful culture of debate is not only desirable, but also necessary. For the preservation of democracy, it is of great importance that citizens meet each other more in appreciative dialogues, also in order to strengthen trust in political institutions.

The current discussion suggests that as a society we should focus on how we conduct our disputes. It is time to leave behind the mudslinging we have experienced in order to create space for real dialogue.