Admitting mistakes is never easy – especially in politics. Every misstep is closely observed and publicly discussed by competitors and the broader public. It is therefore understandable that many politicians hesitate to speak openly about their own shortcomings. The »Fuckup Night for Democracy« puts this very aspect front and center: it offers a stage for politicians to talk publicly about mistakes and what they learned from them. The format was created by political consultant Martin Fuchs. It has now been hosted for the first time in Baden-Württemberg – at our cultural and debate venue Werkraum Schöpflin in Lörrach. Among the speakers sharing their failures and insights were Daniel Born, former Vice President of the Baden-Württemberg State Parliament (SPD); Gudrun Heute-Bluhm, former Lord Mayor of Lörrach (CDU); former state parliament member Josha Frey (Grüne); and Anja Widenmann (FDP), the lead candidate of the Young Liberals for the 2026 state election.

The idea for the format emerged around five years ago, when Martin Fuchs was asked to contribute to a book exploring how democracy can become more resilient today. Drawing on his experience in digital political communication, he knows how destructive online hate can be. »But there are also people on the internet who embrace a healthy culture of dealing with mistakes. So I started thinking about how this culture could be translated from the digital world into an analogue setting. That became the basis for the Fuckup Night for politicians.« Following strong initial interest, the Hertie Foundation suggested implementing the concept together; it premiered in Berlin in 2021. Since then, 16 events have taken place in major German cities – and the Fuckup Night at Werkraum was the first in a rural area.

»Bringing the format to southern Germany was not easy«, Fuchs explains. »In the north, it’s relatively easy to find politicians willing to participate – even senior figures. In the south, it’s much harder. We had to send many requests before receiving four confirmations.« He suspects that the south is more conservative and that even the name Fuckup Night can be off-putting. He also notes gender differences: women tend to be more willing to take part and to reflect publicly on their behavior. »At our event in Kiel, today’s Federal Minister Karin Prien said she experiences her own personal fuckup night every evening when she gets home. In general, I’ve noticed that women reflect more and are therefore more open to talking about mistakes.« Feedback, he adds, is positive across the board: »Many participants tell me that taking deliberate time for reflection has been valuable.« Fuchs hopes these experiences will influence political work processes and that the format may eventually be used within political parties as well.

Not only the speakers benefit from the event – so does the audience. »I found the format fascinating because it gave me an entirely new perspective on politics«, one attendee in Lörrach shared. That is exactly the goal, says Fuchs: »Politicians are often perceived as distant. The Fuckup Nights show that they are people who make mistakes just like everyone else.«

Former Lörrach Lord Mayor Gudrun Heute-Bluhm also draws a positive conclusion. Clearly naming problems is crucial, she says, which made her feel comfortable on stage. »I trust that people won’t judge me harshly just because I admit a mistake.« The idea behind the format could also be used in training to help politicians strengthen their personal development and approach mistakes constructively. Honest feedback is essential: »Many mistakes only become visible when colleagues or family members give open, candid feedback«, Heute-Bluhm notes.

What impressed Martin Fuchs at the Werkraum event was how self-critical and reflective some of the participants were on stage. »It is incredibly valuable when politicians share the consequences and learnings that resulted from their mistakes – both professionally and personally.« For the future, he hopes to see the format expand beyond major cities. »Lörrach was a test balloon – and I hope more Fuckup Nights in rural areas will follow.«

The event is part of Werkraum Schöpflin’s current thematic series »Couragiert Euch!« (»Have Courage!«). From September to December 2025, it focuses on how people can move from inaction to engagement – whether through creative resistance or by taking responsibility for themselves and their communities. 

Further information about the Fuckup Night for Democracy can be found at www.fuckup-night.de.