Lörrach's salon dialogues Democracy and belonging

Oct 2

Jenni Rieger follows three resident–politician conversations at Rieke's hair salon in Lörrach. Wafaa Bahira, born in Algeria, asks mayor Monika Neuhöfer-Avdić about democracy and her declining sense of belonging; the mayor shares concern for pluralism and describes her own family's international background. Volunteer Annette Hofmaier asks Green councillor Margarete Kurfeß how citizens can feel they can change things; Kurfeß expresses hope for renewed civic engagement. German-Pakistani Ahsan Kurt Bashir, active in the Justice Party, confronts AfD councillor Birger Bär with minority fears following recent election results. Bär makes integration-based distinctions and qualifies his beer-with-neighbours example. The report presents the forty-five-minute format as dialogue rather than a quick solution, preserving the participants' different positions.

At Rieke's salon in Lörrach, residents and local politicians meet for forty-five-minute conversations during haircuts. ARD follows exchanges about democratic pluralism and belonging, civic engagement, migration and minority fears. The mayor, a Green councillor and an AfD councillor give different responses; the report presents conversation as a first step rather than an achieved solution.