There is a harmful shift of power in both the political and social realms – away from democratically legitimized institutions to anonymous markets. This was noted by Hans-Jürgen Papier, professor of law and former president of Germany’s Federal Constitutional Court, at the beginning of his speech in front of some 100 guests from the business, political and academic communities at St. Boniface’s Abbey in Munich. In his view, this is the result of a negative trend, the “deparliamentarization of politics”.

According to Papier, this deplorable development can mostly be ascribed to long-term “political failures,” which only made possible the state-caused debt crisis that is shaking Germany and Europe today. As one example of political failure, Papier mentioned the excessive expansion of the welfare state beyond given budgetary limits. As a result, political decisions in these times of self-inflicted crisis are made under the highest pressure, thus failing to ensure their long-term sustainability. Moreover, they are made without sufficient public debate and transparency, frequently even before involving the German Bundestag.

As a result, there is a growing political apathy among the populace. According to Papier, this situation, however, cannot be addressed by referendum, which only reflect politicians’ questions. For Papier, the right approach is to take “small, reliable steps” to rebuild trust in politics. This can only succeed, he said in concluding his plea for parliamentarianism, if the increasingly non-transparent and unsustainable decisions make way for a long-term political strategy based on clear-cut goals and principles.