Heidelberg University Using Voting Rights in the Federal Election on 23 February

The Rectorate of Heidelberg University has joined a general call by the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK), the German National Association for Student Affairs (DSW) and the free association of student bodies (fzs) to participate in the elections for the German Federal Parliament. The members of the Rectorate also welcome the initiative supported nation-wide by academics that calls for the election of democratic parties under the heading “Democracy needs facts”.

The HRK, the DSW and the fzs call on all members of universities – those working in research, teaching technology and administration, as well as the students – to make use of their right to vote on 23 February 2025. “The federal government also counts when it comes to promoting research, teaching, innovation and study conditions,” is the heading of a joint statement. In it, the HRK, DSW and fzs welcome the set of demands directed by the state science ministers towards the future federal government. Increased cooperation between the federal and state governments as well as greater financial commitment by the federal government in the new legislature are essential, the statement says, in order to promote science, higher education institutions and social infrastructures for study. It adds that the position paper of the science ministers’ conference underlines central demands by the HRK, DSW and fzs for a future-proof German university system, better study conditions and more educational justice. Educational and research policy-making should play a key role in the actions of the new federal government – also in order to safeguard economic prosperity, social cohesion and liberal democracy.

The initiative “Stand up for Democracy”, supported by academics nation-wide, advocates for fact-based policies and democratic values. In its petition “Science: facts are the backbone of our democracy” the initiators call on voters to cast their votes on 23 February. “With great concern we observe that facts are increasingly being treated as mere opinions in our society.” They warn against the danger of fact-based discourse being displaced by rhetoric, propaganda or populist simplifications. For example, it is a fact that society is aging and there is a considerable shortage of skilled workers. That is why, the initiators say, immigration must be managed and organized in such a way that integration can succeed in the long term. They are apprehensive about populist polemics that could prevent the influx of necessary skilled workers, lead to discrimination against deserving fellow citizens with a migration background and damage social cohesion. “As scientists we work every day to create the basis for well-founded decisions and innovations – based on verifiable data and facts.”