About Mehr Demokratie
Mehr Demokratie is the driving force for citizens' initiated 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
- Strengthening citizen participation
Structure
14 regional associations, 34 staff
Advisory board of trustees with 50 members from science, culture, politics
9.672 members; 7.500 donators and supporters
Annual budget of approx. 2 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 39 citizens‘ initiatives
5 million signatures collected
Initiation of the biggest constitutional complaint (with 125,000 supporters) of German history with Campact and foodwatch
Realised better citizens’ participation rights in about 30 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”)
Position paper: Rethinking and Reshaping Europe. Proposals for a Refounding of the EU
A redesign process of the EU will only succeed if it differs significantly from the path followedso far. We will need to discuss a redistribution of power between the four political levels (municipalities, regions, nation states, EU). The objective must be to transfer competences back to levels closer to the citizens. We see both the EU and the nation states have duties in thisdecentralizing process. The power accumulated at EU level requires stricter legitimisation thanbefore. Here you can download our position paper:
We are member of Democracy International - the global network for direct democracy.