Lecture by Dr Thomas de Maizière: “How can Germany regain its capacity for reform – the conditions for political success”
On 7 July at 6.30 pm, Dr Thomas de Maizière will give a lecture at Villa Hügel in Essen entitled “How can Germany regain its capacity for reform – the conditions for political success”. The lecture is free of charge. Registration is required and opens on 5 May at 11.00 am.
As a co-initiator of the “Initiative for an effective state”, Dr Thomas de Maizière, lawyer and longtime federal minister, will discuss why Germany does not lack reform concepts, but often lacks clear structures of responsibility, binding prioritisation and consistent implementation. The focus is on the institutional “architecture” of Germany – that is, responsibilities, decision-making processes and control mechanisms – as well as the administrative culture, which either enables or hinders speed, accountability and trust. He will demonstrate how legislation, federalism and administration can be realigned so that reforms do not get bogged down in procedures but instead have a tangible impact in everyday life.
Dr Thomas de Maizière
Dr Thomas de Maizière (born 1954) studied law in Münster and Freiburg and obtained his doctoral degree in 1986. Among other roles, he held the positions of Head of the Federal Chancellery, Federal Minister of the Interior and Federal Minister of Defence, and was a directly elected member of the German Bundestag from 2009 to 2021. Today, he is Chairman of the Deutsche Telekom Stiftung and co-founder of the Initiative for an Effective State.