Dresden (dpa/sn) - The Saxon Greens see a fatal signal in the low participation of citizens in the district elections on Sunday. "The even lower turnout than in the first ballot with a total of less than 40 percent is frightening and a stab in the heart of democracy. Because it is clear that local politics is the nucleus of our democracy," said state chairwoman Marie Müser on Monday in Dresden. For the newly elected district administrators, as well as for all democrats, the central task is to better involve the citizenry in daily politics and to arouse more desire to participate.
"Involving the citizens was neglected for far too long. This is taking revenge with this voter turnout. It is all the more important that the state government is now launching so many measures for better participation and transparency - from places of democracy to the transparency law - which must continue to be filled with life," explained the party leader. Strong communities only exist with a progressive policy that is created together with the local people.
Voter turnout in the district elections was again weak on Sunday. It ranged from 28.9 percent in the district of Zwickau to 39.8 percent in the district of Görlitz.
