In Saxony have reaffirmed calls for Leipzig, Dresden and Chemnitz binding youth participation. In response, the Saxon state government points to the pilot project, which has been running since the end of 2025, Forum for Young Perspectives, in which around 30 young people aged 14 to 27 advise politicians and the authorities on climate, education, infrastructure and security prevention, according to the ministry. The project is in its trial phase; no decision has yet been made on its impact, continuation or funding.
In addition to questions of participation, the Saxon state parliament continues to focus on preventing radicalisation. In April 2026, a motion by the ALLIANCE 90/THE GREENS parliamentary group, entitled ‘Protect young people, strengthen social cohesion – resolutely oppose the radicalisation of young people in Saxony’, was debated. Proposals include binding safeguarding policies in schools and an independent support service. Experts from academia and civil society point to documented cases of far-right mobilisation among young people and recommend a coordinated strategy combining education, youth work and digital prevention services.
The protests, some under the banner Gen Z Takes Charge, draw attention to a gap between being affected by decisions and having a say in them: political decisions on issues such as location, energy, transport and public safety have a long-term impact on younger generations, while their opportunities to influence them often remain limited to individual projects. According to the DeutschlandTrend poll in November, youth protests across Germany are attracting growing attention; at the same time, regional surveys in Saxony point to a tense mood.
This presents the state government with two specific tasks. First, institutionalised formats such as the forum must be systematically evaluated during the trial period, using transparent criteria, clearly defined responsibilities and a plan for making them permanent if there is evidence that the advice improves decisions. Second, tackling radicalisation requires robust evidence about its scale and mechanisms in Saxony, linked to binding safeguarding and intervention procedures in schools, youth work and online spaces.
In practice, without clearly defined participation rights, secure resources and regular impact assessments, there is a continuing risk that engagement will be channelled into tokenistic formats. The government, Saxon State Parliament and local authorities therefore face the task of treating participation as a structural principle of state policy, beyond individual projects – with reliable participation procedures, communication that is accessible to young people and measurable results.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).