In the afternoon, Chancellor Scholz spoke about this on a Dresden public transport tram Democracy project “metropolis” informed. The project takes place several times a week in the last compartment of a tram in normal service. In discussion groups, social issues such as bullying, loneliness and stress or politically sensitive topics with potential for controversy are discussed with passengers who happen to be present and engage in conversation. These include, for example, asylum seekers, the heating law or climate change in general. The “metropolis” protagonists explained: Often the startling question is: “What was your childhood like?”
Scholz said he would like it if this project, which so far only exists in Dresden and Leipzig, would set a precedent. Despite his busy visit schedule, he took time for the initiators and individual participants in the “metropolis” project, listened to them, let them finish and also answered questions. After the conversation on the tram at the Trachenberge depot, project manager Kristina Krömer wasn’t entirely sure whether she had gotten through every detail to the Chancellor. After all, the Chancellor is known for his reserved Hanseatic mentality in conversations – and that wasn’t fundamentally different in the Dresden tram.
However, his serious interest is probably based on the fact that the Federal Chancellery knocked on “metropolis” and the Chancellor basically asked for an interview during his visit to Dresden. The democracy project presented itself with corresponding self-confidence. The head of government was particularly interested in how the Dresden city administration deals with the regular feedback from “metropolis” and thus also with the opinions and suggestions of citizens.