On July 10, I had the pleasure of experiencing the life of a parliamentarian up close for a day. I was allowed to accompany Holger Dremel, a member of the Bavarian State Parliament, as his “assistant” for an entire session day. After an initial brief meeting with representatives from the business community, we headed to the State Parliament’s Committee on Local Affairs, Internal Security, and Sports. Various topics were discussed there: support options for flood-related damage in municipalities, crime statistics, citizen petitions, improving safety for police officers, complaints about excessive sewage fees, and the prosecution of extremism, racism, and anti-Semitism. The Bavarian Minister of State for Justice was also a guest at this committee meeting and reported on the increase in attacks on public officials and elected representatives.
Together with Holger Dremel, Member of the State Parliament (MdL), Klaus Holetschek, Member of the State Parliament (MdL), and Dr. Herbert Lacker
No decision without clear facts
What struck me during the roughly three-hour committee meeting was how disciplined, organized, efficient, and courteous the members of all parties were in their interactions with one another. If the representatives cannot reach a decision on a matter because not all the facts are known, they decide to adjourn and consult experts or schedule a joint on-site visit with one representative each from the governing parties and the opposition. What I see here is quite different from the image we sometimes get from the media. Positive! But even here, minor partisan squabbles were not absent, such as “… we won’t support your motion because you didn’t support ours two months ago either.” So, abstention.
Professional and efficient in the Committee on Local Affairs, Internal Security, and Sports
Less bureaucracy, more security, better conditions for the economy
After a very brief lunch with MPs Thorsten Freudenberger and Holger Dremel, things got really exciting. We attended a meeting of the CSU state parliamentary group led by Chairman Klaus Holetschek. Minister-President Dr. Markus Söder was also present. Key topics included: reducing bureaucracy, a community service, as well as security and economic policy.
Politics up close with Minister-President Dr. Markus Söder at the CSU parliamentary group meeting.
Pragmatic solutions, personal responsibility, and clear communication are crucial
Immediately afterward, the Bavarian State Government’s Commissioner for Reducing Bureaucracy, State Representative Walter Nussel, explained to representatives of the Bavarian Economic Advisory Council how he can break down bureaucratic hurdles and achieve practical solutions in cooperation with industry, commerce, and the business sector. Three aspects are particularly important here: greater personal responsibility, improved communication, and practical implementation. Here, too, the great importance of clear, targeted communication and the interconnection between political and economic action became evident once again.
Society and the economy are at risk—monitoring, education, and decisive action are crucial
To conclude my day as a political observer, I had the opportunity to attend the project group on combating extremism. Christoph de Vries, Member of the Bundestag (CDU) and an expert on internal affairs, reported on his experience, particularly in combating political Islamism, and explained how our liberal democracy is constantly exposed to new threats from both within and without. Under the leadership of the project group chair, Prof. Dr. Winfried Bausback, Member of the State Parliament (MdL), the lawmakers discussed options for prevention, education, and the consistent prosecution of criminal offenses. As a communications expert, I also had the opportunity to contribute to the discussion on the topics of fake news and deepfakes.
Project Group on Combating Extremism: Christoph de Vries, Member of the Bundestag, discusses the dangers of Islamist extremists with state parliament members. Photos: NA Behr
Conclusion
Politicians, like many managers, have a very tightly scheduled daily routine. The topics vary greatly and require focused, disciplined, and empathetic collaboration. Clear, results-oriented communication is essential here. The discussions behind closed doors are sometimes tough on the substance, but—at least on this day—were conducted in a very results-oriented, humane, and fair manner. Every member of parliament was well-versed in the various topics and was able to represent them effectively.
It is in the interest of the economy and society that politicians be able to do their jobs well and not be constantly criticized and defamed in public. It is up to not only the media, but all of us, to ensure this!
Regular communication with your local representatives helps you, on the one hand, to gain an understanding of political work and, on the other hand, gives you the opportunity to contribute your experiences and expertise to the political process. Take advantage of this dialogue with politicians, because they can only effectively advocate for economic interests if they are made aware of difficult issues in a timely manner.