Quite a few expert commissions of the Federal government of Germany have submitted their recommendations in recent weeks. On public radio station Inforadio, Sven T. Siefken discussed their composition, the potential consequences and legitimacy of commissions. More here: https://www.inforadio.de/rubriken/interviews/2026/06/27/rente-kommission-social-media-experten-rat-regierung.html and the audio version below
The cover of my book on expert commissions in the political process has faded after 18 years … not the analysis. More on the advisory commissions in 2025 and what to expect from them, I discussed with Rheinische Post newspaper (here): pension reform, the debt break, child and youth protection in a digital world, de-risking…
Headlines can be misleading: In this interview with “Die Welt” newspaper, I argue that the expert commission on pension reform has a good chance for success. It will not be a “Heureka” moment, finding a new solution to make everyone happy. But it can negotiate and balance a compromise that works. Success will depend on…
The new German government has planned a record number of expert commissions. Sven T. Siefken has been doing research on their various uses for many years and talked about his findings to the Spiegel magazine. There are symbolic uses, they may help settle negotiations by postponing though decisions, but they can also bring about fundamental…
The coalition contract of CDU, CSU and SPD includes agreements to set up 15 expert commissions, a very high number compared to previous years. On the public radio station MDR, Sven T. Siefken talked about the different uses and reasons for this particular instrument of policy advice, varying from substantial advice to symbolism. The article…
Are democratic institutions and bureaucracy losing their functionality? This were key topics of a conference held at the Akademie für politische Bildung in Tutzing. Sven T. Siefken gave a talk on informality in politics, analyzing coalition negotiations, expert advisory commissions and coalition management. More about the conference can be found here https://www.apb-tutzing.de/Tagungsprogramme/2023/39-4-23-programm.pdf
Speaking truth to power? Or just symbolizing it? Sharing thoughts on the changing role of expertise in policy making – and how it relates to Parliament, Sven T. Siefken spoke at the International Commission of Jurists, held in the Bundestag. More here
Faszinierend klingt der Gedanke: Weise Frauen und Männer mit breiter Erfahrung in allen Bereichen der Gesellschaft werden vom Bundeskanzler zusammengerufen, um gemeinsam die Antwort auf eine drängende politische Frage zu finden – und das jenseits von parteilichen Machtkämpfen und allein nach bestem Wissen und Gewissen, der guten Sache, dem Land, dem Gemeinwohl verpflichtet. Doch halt!…