Petitions in Thuringia: 551 requests processed in 2023!

Petitions in Thuringia: 551 requests processed in 2023!

In 2023, the Petitions Committee of the Thuringian State Parliament processed a remarkable number of 551 petitions. This makes it clear how actively the citizens of Thuringia want their concerns to be heard by politicians. Almost half of these concerns, 267 to be precise, were able to be completed in full, while around four percent, i.e. around 22 petitions, could not be processed. These figures not only show the commitment of citizens, but also the challenges that political institutions face.

The variety of topics covered by the petitions submitted is particularly interesting. Many of the concerns revolved around urgent issues such as wastewater disposal, the state of democracy, wind energy areas and accessibility in local public transport. However, a noticeable focus was on migration, justice and consumer protection. The objects of the assessment here were primarily 95 petitions, of which 62 were submitted on the subject of prison alone. A clear indication of the lively participation in discussions on social justice issues.

Increasing requirements and new challenges

A notable increase was evident in the areas of infrastructure and forestry. According to information from 2023, there were 60 petitions here, which is double the number from the previous year. This increase can be attributed to concerns about the state of forests and the actions of farmers' protests. This makes it clear that citizens are actively addressing issues that are close to their hearts and that are directly linked to their living environment.

Despite these many applications, a decline in petitions has been observed over the years. In 2023 there were still over 600 concerns, while the number has decreased in the recent past. However, innovative initiatives also have their successes. A public petition for health care reached a record number of signatures: almost 64,000 people collected votes to save the pharmacies. This impressively reflects how relevant the topic is for the population and what influence a well-organized petition can have.

The work of the Petitions Committee

The Petitions Committee relies on close cooperation with its citizens. Since 2013, concerns can be submitted via an online form on the Thuringian state parliament's petition platform and co-signed by other people. A petition that receives at least 1,500 signatures has the opportunity to be presented at a committee hearing. This creates a direct connection between politics and the population, which is often highly valued.

The Petitions Committee is supported by the Ombudsman of the State of Thuringia and can issue examination orders that are within its responsibility. This shows how seriously citizens' concerns are taken. The Petitions Committee also has an important function at the federal level: it represents the interface between the Bundestag and citizens and acts as a seismograph for the current mood among the population. However, concerns that fall within the area of ​​responsibility of the federal states are not dealt with in this committee.

Overall, it shows that the platforms, both at the state and federal level, play an important role in the participation of citizens. The opportunity to submit concerns in the form of petitions is an essential element of democratic participation. This year, the [Thuringian State Parliament](https://www.thueringer-landtag.de/landtag/ausschuesse-gremien/ausschuesse/petitions committee/) has impressively demonstrated how complex this participation is and how different the topics are that are on people's minds. A further reference to the function of the Petitions Committee can also be found at the Bundestag, which gives citizens the opportunity to address their concerns directly to the legislature and thus actively contribute to shaping the political agenda.

In the midst of these developments, it remains to be hoped that people's concerns will continue to be heard sufficiently in the future and that the exchange between citizens and politicians will be further promoted. Because one thing is certain: dialogue is the key to a functioning democratic system, and petitions are an important tool to promote this dialogue.