About Mehr Demokratie

Mehr Demokratie is the driving force for referenda and a better electoral law. Every vote counts equally and everybody has the right to participate. That's what we stand up for. Citizens committed to change founded Mehr Demokratie in 1988. Today we have thirteen regional branches, eight offices and members. Mehr Demokratie is the largest non-party organization promoting democracy in the European Union.

In Brief: Mehr Demokratie e.V.

  • Biggest non-governmental organisation for direct democracy in the world, impartial, not-for-profit

  • Campaigns, advice, scientific analysis, legislative proposals on democracy issues


Topics

  • Introduction of citizens’ initiatives and referenda at national level

  • Reforms of direct democracy at local and federal level

  • Reforms of the electoral system and the parliament proceedings

  • Democratisation of the EU

  • Strengthening of freedom of information

Structure

  • 13 regional associations, 40 staff

  • Advisory board of trustees with 50 members from science, culture, politics

  • 7.128 members; 3.600 donators and supporters

  • Annual budget of approx. 1 million Euro

  • Financed by membership fees and donations, no state funding

  • Founding member of Democracy International

  • Partner organisation of OMNIBUS für direkte Demokratie


Results

  • Initiator of 19 citizens‘ initiatives

  • 5 million signatures collected

  • Intiator of the biggest constitutional complaint in Germany with 37.000 supporters („Europe needs more Democracy“ – against ESM and Fiscal Treaty)

  • Realised better citizens’ participation rights in about 20 cases. Criticised intransparaent and unfair rules; Recognised watchdog on democracy

  • Regular reports and rankings on direct democracy and the electoral system

  • Own magazine (“md magazin”)

Latest News from Democracy International

18. Juni 2013

A chat with Greek activists

Kategorie: di - news

In Greece many people search for alternative ways to organise their society. At an event in Athens on July 8 they discussed their ideas about the necessary changes of the political system. Among the visitors were Greek activists...[weiter...]

07. Juni 2013

The failed referendum in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria

Kategorie: di - news

More than 90 per cent of the people, who cast their vote in the local referendum organised in the town of Stara Zagora, Central Bulgaria, answered positively to the question whether the Zmeyovo testing ground should be closed...[weiter...]

29. Mai 2013

Promising referendum law campaign in the Netherlands

Kategorie: di - news

The Dutch member group of Democracy International, the Referendum Platform, is currently campaigning to get the referendum law adopted that has been lying dormant in the parliament for several years. The law would introduce a...[weiter...]

The Binnenhof, seat of the Dutch lower and upper houses (Photo: Wikipedia)

22. Mai 2013

Dutch activist on direct democracy in Athens

Kategorie: di - news

On Friday, 10 May 2013, Arjen Nijeboer Arjen Nijeboer, spokesperson of the Dutch Referendum Platform, gave a lecture on direct democracy in the Floral Café, an alternative café and bookshop in the heart of Athens. The lecture was...[weiter...]

Arjen Nijeboer in the Floral Café

21. Mai 2013

Support “Let Me Vote”, the ECI to give EU citizens full voting rights!

Kategorie: di - news

Democracy International supports the European Citizens’ Initiative “Let me vote” and therefore calls upon every EU citizen to sign the initiative. Like Democracy International, “Let me vote!” pursues the goal of accomplishing...[weiter...]

The logo of the ECI "Let me vote"

16. Mai 2013

Lithuanian government should follow result of referendum against nuclear power plant

Kategorie: di - press release

Democracy International calls upon the Lithuanian government to accept the result of the referendum of 14 October 2012, in which almost 65 per cent of voters had decided not to build a new nuclear power plant in Lithuania, the...[weiter...]

(Photo: Gerd altmann / pixelio.de)

14. Mai 2013

Hype in the Hauptstadt: Collecting signatures at midnight in Berlin

Kategorie: di - news

Crawling pubs on a Friday night in Prenzlauer Berg, one of Berlin’s hip districts, chatting up guys in bars that have as special names as “Zu mir oder zu Dir” (“to me or to you”) and getting their autographs. This is not the...[weiter...]

Collecting signatures in Prenzlauer Berg

08. Mai 2013

European Commission, take seriously the ECI!

Kategorie: di - press release

On the occasion of „Europe Day” on Thursday, 9 May 2013 and during times of the EU’s biggest crises, Democracy International calls upon the European Commission to take seriously the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) ‘Water is a...[weiter...]

06. Mai 2013

Democracy International: New Council for countries

Kategorie: di - news

On Saturday, 4th May 2013, Democracy International formally established the Council in its headquarters in Cologne, Germany. Democracy initiatives from Austria, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands are the first...[weiter...]

03. Mai 2013

ECI „Water is a Human Right“ ready for submission to Commission

Kategorie: di - news

Yesterday, the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) "Water is a human right" jumped over the last hurdle to qualify for the European Commission as a law proposal. With Luxembourg, Finland and Lithuania providing the necessary...[weiter...]

We are member of Democracy International - the global network for direct democracy.