February 3, 2026
Make the law understandable,
Strengthening Democracy
Visit by Federal Minister of Justice Dr. Stefanie Hubig to the Forum Recht Foundation in Leipzig
The law and the rule of law must be understandable, tangible, and open to discussion. We discussed this on January 19 with Dr. Stefanie Hubig, Federal Minister of Justice and Consumer Protection, during her visit to the Foundation’s Leipzig office. She discussed key legal policy issues and the importance of the rule of law for everyday democratic life with staff members and board members of the Forum Recht Foundation.
Creating Spaces for Exchange
The Foundation's Board of Directors, Dr Cord Brügmann and Dr Stephan N. Barthelmess, along with the department heads, provided insights into our current work and discussed with the minister the prospects for the future development of the Forum Recht Foundation.
The discussion centered on the shared conviction that law and the rule of law must not be abstract constructs. They shape people’s everyday lives and must therefore be accessible, understandable, and open to discussion. Through exhibitions, dialogue formats, and participatory initiatives, the Forum Recht Foundation creates spaces where people can share their everyday experiences with the law, ask questions, and actively help shape the discourse.
Members of the Board of Trustees the foundation: Prof. Dr. Andreas Korbmacher, President of the Federal Administrative Court, Holger Mann, Member of the Bundestag, as well as Burkhard Jung, Mayor of the City of Leipzig, accompanied by Dr. Sven Richter, advisor to the mayor. The federal minister was accompanied by Dr. Johannes Dimroth, the Permanent Representative of the State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection, as well as by Janning Heimes, Advisor to the Federal Minister.
Legal Policy Priorities for 2026
During her visit, Dr. Stefanie Hubig also spoke about her legal policy priorities for 2026. She cited as her top priority the Rule of Law itself. It provides the framework for daily coexistence and is a prerequisite for freedom, equality before the law, and an independent judiciary to be effective. Without this framework, the freedoms achieved in Germany could not be secured in the long term.
The federal minister highlighted the following as another key focus: Affordable Housing ... In particular, the social aspect of rental law should be strengthened to ensure greater protection for tenants and promote affordable rents.
A third key area is the Violence Prevention – from domestic violence and attacks on first responders to the rise in violence in the digital realm. These developments are directly felt by many people and require decisive legal and policy responses.
In a conversation with our social media manager, Gesa Vierkant, Ms. Hubig explains these points in more detail.
We conducted the interview with Ms. Hubig on the sidelines of the meeting on January 19 for our Instagram channel conducted.
Democracy requires explanation and participation
When asked about the importance of programs that educate the public about the law and the rule of law, Dr. Hubig emphasized that many fundamental freedoms are often taken for granted in everyday democratic life. Yet these are achievements that have evolved over time and must be explained, brought to life, and actively defended—by each and every individual.
This is precisely where the work of the Forum Recht Foundation comes in. We hope to continue expanding our programs in the future and creating a wide range of opportunities to foster dialogue about the law and the rule of law. Our discussion with the federal minister has provided us with valuable insights for our future work, and we look forward to building on these ideas together.