On September 1, 2024, the new state parliament will be elected in Saxony. The HSZG is calling on people to actively think about how they can participate in the democratic process.
In a representative democracy, elections are a key element for the participation of citizens in the political process. They combine the functions of evaluating and controlling those who have been in power with the formation of new majorities in the state parliament and thus the formation of new governments. They are therefore a central component of citizen participation in determining the direction of politics and the appointment of political leaders over the next five years.
In view of the obvious political challenges and the partly polarized political conflicts and debates in the Free State, the Rectorate is calling for broad participation by members and affiliates of the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences. The broader the participation of the electorate, the more clearly the composition of the state parliament reflects the political positions and orientations of the population as a whole and the stronger the mandate of the new government that emerges from these elections. At the same time, we do not have compulsory voting in the Federal Republic of Germany, but a right to vote.
As a state university, we are committed to the free and democratic basic order of the Federal Republic of Germany, i.e. the Basic Law, and the Constitution of the Free State of Saxony and, in particular, its Higher Education Act. We therefore expressly support any democratic and constitutionally compliant political engagement by our members and affiliates - from applying for a seat in the state parliament to acting as an election assistant. We expressly do not make any direct or even indirect election recommendations for any political direction, party or individual candidates.
In this sense, we promote the broad exercise of the right to vote and the peaceful, equal and democratic coexistence of all political actors and citizens in this and in the subsequent everyday life of democracy at all levels. We deeply condemn violence (incitement), hate speech, discrimination and anti-democratic actions that destroy our free and democratic order. We do not want such things at our university and in Saxony.
The Rectorate would like to take this opportunity to once again draw attention to the activities of basic units and colleagues at the university - also in cooperation with regional partners - in the field of political and democratic education. Here you will find a wide range of information, communication and information on events in which all interested parties can participate according to the formats and specific possibilities. The overview and contact persons can be found here. Furthermore, the Landesrektorenkonferenz e. V. offers you the possibility of orientation with the help of so-called election test stones at www.lrk-sachsen.de.
Zittau/Görlitz on August 27, 2024
The Rectorate
