Politikstile - wie Medien sie deuten und warum Emotionen und Symbole das Demokratievertrauen beeinflussen

Discussion evening

Winfried Kretschmann as the state father quoting Hannah Arendt, Olaf Scholz's "calm manner" or the emotional speech of Ricarda Lang or Heidi Reichinnek: political styles describe the "how" of political action: appearance, rhetoric, media use, clothing, role models. This symbolic and emotional dimension is central to political communication - and should not be confused with mere symbolic politics. A study by the Heinrich Böll Foundation analyzes how German leading media reported on the political styles of the top candidates for the 2025 federal election - and what influence this has on trust in democracy. Based on this, we will discuss the significance of political styles in Baden-Württemberg - particularly with regard to the recent state elections.