600 voices on COVID-19

On 10 October 2026, the first of four citizens’ panels to review the COVID-19 pandemic took place in Wolfsburg. A total of 600 randomly selected citizens are to share their experiences of the pandemic years and develop recommendations for dealing with future crises. Other venues include Halle an der Saale, Ingolstadt and Düsseldorf. As early as 2025, Mehr Demokratie had proposed a similar procedure.

Officially, the German Bundestag refers to the events as “regional dialogue forums”. They are intended to provide input to the Enquete Commission on “Reviewing the COVID-19 Pandemic and Lessons for Future Pandemic Events”. In each case, 150 citizens will come together to discuss their different experiences and assessments of the pandemic.

Kick-off in Wolfsburg

The first citizens’ panel took place on 10 October 2026 in Wolfsburg. The event lasted one day. Citizens will discuss their experiences during the pandemic and draw up recommendations based on these. A documentation team will record the findings. Participants will then elect representatives for a joint closing event at the Bundestag.

The chair of the Enquete Commission, Michael Hose (CDU), said at the launch: “The way the coronavirus pandemic has been handled has driven a wedge between people.” The dialogue forums are intended to help bridge these divides. He hopes that the citizens’ experiences and recommendations will provide important insights for the parliamentary review.

Randomly selected invitations

The Erfurt-based market research institute drei.fakt was responsible for the random selection and approach of citizens. The institute’s aim was to bring together people with different experiences and perspectives and to achieve as balanced a cross-section of the population as possible.

The citizens approached were able to apply to take part. The Enquete Commission’s secretariat ensured a balanced distribution across different occupational and age groups. IKU – Die Dialoggestalter is responsible for the detailed concept and the organisation of the dialogue forums.

A safe space for difficult discussions

The citizens’ councils are addressing experiences that are still viewed differently today: school closures, contact restrictions, vaccinations, the situation in hospitals and care homes, and the economic, social and psychological consequences of the pandemic.

This is not merely about evaluating past decisions. The Enquete Commission also wishes to find out what lessons citizens have learnt for future crises.

Michael Hose emphasises that the discussions are to take place in a safe and supportive environment. For this reason, the four citizens’ councils are not open to the public.

The Commission’s chair pointed out that the pandemic had had not only health-related but also significant social consequences. The Commission aims to help people who fell out during the pandemic to engage in dialogue with one another again.

The issues being addressed by the parliamentary review include the future approach to vaccinations and possible school closures in the event of another pandemic.

Young people’s experiences as a model

The Enquete Commission has been encouraged by a round of discussions already held with children, teenagers and young adults. The recommendations drawn up there were very serious and concrete, explained Hose. The Commission now hopes to see comparable results from the four regional citizens’ assemblies.

The experiences of the general public are intended to complement the scientific and parliamentary investigation. The Enquete Commission comprises 14 Members of the Bundestag and 14 external experts.

Hose emphasised that the Commission must also reflect the diverse perspectives on the pandemic and its consequences held by the general public. Citizens’ everyday experiences are just as important for this as the assessments of the experts.

Common sense should find its way into the Bundestag

Even before the inquiry commission was set up, the ‘Mehr Demokratie’ had called for public participation. In July 2025, Jacob Birkenhäger, a member of the NGO’s federal executive committee, justified this by pointing to the direct consequences of political decisions: “Citizens should be involved, because the pandemic measures have had – and continue to have – a massive impact on their lives.”

Roman Huber, the Executive Federal Executive Committee member, put his demand as follows: “It is unacceptable for politicians and scientists to negotiate amongst themselves what politicians and scientists have got wrong.”

Mehr Demokratie and the nexus Institute had proposed a multi-stage participatory process in a concept paper. This was intended to combine regional consultations, online participation and the subsequent handover of the findings to the Enquete Commission.

Handover in January 2027

In January 2027, representatives of the four citizens’ assemblies are to come together for a closing event in the Bundestag. There, they are to hand over the results they have produced to the Enquete Commission.

The Commission intends to draw on the experiences and views of citizens in its work. Its final report is due to be published by the end of June 2027 and will contain recommendations for preparing for and managing future pandemics.