CDU in Steglitz-Zehlendorf: parliamentary television before the end?
CDU in Steglitz-Zehlendorf: parliamentary television before the end?
The CDU parliamentary group in Steglitz-Zehlendorf has expressed concerns to abolish the recently introduced parliamentary television, which transfers the meetings of the district council meetings (BVV) live to the Internet. This comes after the live streams from the Zehlendorf town hall only started in December 2022. This development causes excitement because the livestream offers great opportunities in times of increasing digital participation.
According to Torsten Hippe, the CDU parliamentary group leader, only about 50 spectators pursue the sessions transferred online. He questions the benefits of this measure and refers to the apparent small number of spectators as the reason for the considerations of canceling the format. However, critics see this a sign of returning to less transparency and less proximity to the citizens in political work.
background of parliamentary television
Parliament television was launched to facilitate access to the political decisions of their elected representatives. The declared goal is to encourage more people to form political opinions and participation. Especially at a time when trust in political institutions is at risk, this measure could be seen as a public service that could lead to a stronger citizen participation.
The CDU parliamentary group in Steglitz-Zehlendorf argues that the financial and personnel resources that are required for the operation of the live stream are not justified if the number of spectators remains so low. However, this attitude is viewed critically from various sides, since it raises the question of what standards should be created for the success of such programs. Is the number of spectators the only benchmark? Or should it rather be a chance to achieve citizens, regardless of whether they are online or not?
The decision to question parliamentary television could have far -reaching consequences for the future of digital transparency in Berlin politics. Numerous local and initiatives that work for more civic engagement observe these developments with concern. The public debate is already in full swing, and experts are disagreed with the actual reasons and the objectives of the CDU parliamentary group. as continued, remains to be seen whether there is a view of changes or whether the CDU holds on its line.
In fact, parliamentary television can be viewed as a key tool for promoting transparency and dialogue between politics and the citizens. A departure from this concept could raise negative sustainability issues, especially with regard to the educational opportunities that citizens can receive through these initiatives.The public perception of these decisions will be crucial. Should the CDU change its point of view and continue parliamentary television, this could lead to a positive signal for all political actors and the electorate that demand digital connections and transparency in politics.