KfW Initiative: Companies in Hesse boost their commitment to municipal policy

• Support for employees with local government duties
• “Charter of Democracy” under the patronage of the Hessian State Chancellery

A number of prominent companies in Hesse have launched a joint initiative to boost engagement in democratic processes in cities, communities and districts. Under the patronage of the Hessian State Chancellery (Hessische Staatskanzlei), KfW, as the initiator, is working with Deutsche Börse Group, Fraport AG, HEAG Holding AG, Helaba, KION Group, PwC Germany, and SAMSON to support employees who voluntarily take on duties in the field of local politics. Common guidelines for this have been set out in a “Charter of Democracy”. Local elections in the federal state of Hesse are set to take place on 15 March.

The aim of the initiative is to support employees in taking on duties within local politics and also to strengthen local engagement with democratic processes. It focuses on the use of concrete measures to create space for voluntary involvement in local politics and to promote dialogue about democratic values.

Each of the companies involved defines its own support measures independently. By way of example, KfW is granting for the first time a special leave to selected employees who are elected to a municipal parliament position during the local elections in Hesse. In addition, the promotional bank will provide accompanying coaching for this target group, covering topics such as building resilience. The Hertie Foundation is partnering the cooperation, offering companies and their employees programmes to develop skills and promote newcomers to the field of volunteering in local politics.

“We want to make a clear commitment to fundamental democratic values and combine this with measures that have a genuine impact,”

says KfW’s Chief Executive Officer Stefan Wintels.

“It’s precisely the political engagement at a local level which is key to the strength and ongoing development of our democracy. Through this initiative, we want to anchor democratic education and democratic commitment in our corporate culture - sending a signal that can also make an impact beyond Hesse.”

The head of the State Chancellery, State Secretary Benedikt Kuhn, emphasised:

“Our democracy thrives on the fact that citizens actively support it - by voting, by having their say and even objecting, by assuming responsibility and by engaging with political processes. Democracy fails not because of too much talk, but because of too much silence. Diversity of opinion is not a risk, but a strength. And our common charter opens up exactly the space needed for this form of democracy in practice. It fosters engagement and debate by encouraging people to participate in politics. I would like to thank KfW as the initiator and all the inaugural signatories for this strong signal for democracy. I am delighted to take over the patronage.”

Ingrid M. Haas, Managing Director Group Communications & Marketing at Deutsche Börse Group:

“Democracy is based on transparency, openness and fairness - values that also characterise Deutsche Börse Group. That’s why we are supporting the Charter of Democracy and creating opportunities for employees who engage in civil society – providing an encouraging example of our collaborative spirit.”

Julia Kranenberg, Executive Board Member and CHRO at Fraport:

“We live and work in a diverse society. Recognising and appreciating this diversity not only makes us strong as an international airport operator but also reinforces our democracy. At the same time, democracy thrives on people who take on responsibility as members of local authorities and municipalities. We at Fraport support employees who want to take an active role in local politics. After all, political participation and tolerance form the foundation of our democratic life together.”

Prof. Dr Klaus-Michael Ahrend and Dr Markus Hoschek, Executive Board members at HEAG:

“Social cohesion is not a matter of course, but requires everyone to get involved. We believe it is important that people from the worlds of business and corporate practice are actively involved in politics. This commitment contributes to finding joint solutions to local challenges and strengthening cooperation.”

Dr Stefan Brügmann, Head of Human Resources & Law, Helaba:

“A liberal democracy characterised by diversity and tolerance is the foundation of our prosperity. At a municipal level, politics thrives on voluntary engagement – including that of our employees. That is why we, as a local federal bank, have signed the Charter of Democracy to actively support this commitment in the future.”

Markus Georgi, Senior Vice President Investor Relations & KION Group Communications:

“Integrity, cooperation and courage are KION’s core values - at the global, regional and local level. With the Charter of Democracy, we and the other companies involved want to highlight the importance of municipal policy for a thriving democracy in Germany. As an employer, we support our employees in Germany in adopting voluntary municipal roles without financial losses.”

Prof. Dr Bernd Roese, Office Director for Frankfurt, PwC Germany:

“Democracy is not a spectator sport - it relies on smart minds joining in and getting involved. I am proud that PwC is actively promoting this social engagement. This is an integral part of our corporate culture.”

Dr Andreas Widl, CEO SAMSON:

“German SMEs are synonymous with responsibility, reliability, long-term thinking and action - with a strong intention to invest in Germany and secure jobs. All of this requires a democracy that is efficient and effective. It is the basis of our business and prosperity. This creates responsibility for everyone. And we are taking responsibility: in our cooperation with the Hainbachtal workshops, which enable people with disabilities to participate in work and by offering training places for young refugees and in homeland security. We are also investing a record amount in a new workshop - right here in the Rhine-Main region. To make a further statement and to strengthen the location on a sustainable basis, we are supporting the Charter of Democracy and this initiative by KfW.”

Further information about the initiative can be found here: Charter of Democracy (German page).

A picture of the initial signatories is available for download here.(JPG, 3 MB)