Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned of attempts by populist parties to divide German society and weaken social cohesion, stressing that the promise of living in freedom is coming under increasing pressure. Her statements came during the ceremony of receiving the 2026 Mendelssohn International Prize in the Gewandhaus Hall in the city of Leipzig, eastern Germany.
Merkel said that populist parties are trying to fragment the concept of human dignity and classify citizens into different categories, explaining that these forces propose divisions such as “the people” versus “the elites,” or a distinction between those who recently obtained German citizenship and those who have held it for many years. She added that such speeches aim to stir up division, hatred and envy among segments of society.
Merkel stressed that the people are the source of all authorities in Germany, but stressed that this concept includes all German citizens without exception. She said: “But the people include all German citizens. In this regard, one is not asked whether he came later from the former German Democratic Republic or whether he came from Syria only three years ago. All German citizens are the people.”
Merkel, who served as German Chancellor between 2005 and 2021, received the 2026 Mendelssohn Prize in the “Europe” category, while the award in the music category was given to clarinetist, conductor and composer Jörg Wiedemann. The award is granted without a financial reward.
In her speech, Merkel called for building a strong and self-confident European Union, stressing that a unified Europe must be clearer and more resolute in a world witnessing rapid transformations. “We have to defend our position,” she said, warning that the European Union’s inability to fulfill its promise to achieve well-being for citizens could lead to strengthening nationalist and populist tendencies.
The former chancellor stressed that Europe always represents “added value for us,” considering that the success of the European project requires the ability to understand the points of view of others and not to believe in possessing the absolute truth. “Others also have valid arguments,” she added.
Merkel was honored in recognition of what Leipzig Mayor Burkhard Jung described as her special contributions to uniting Europe, enhancing its integration, and maintaining its cohesion as a society based on peace and common values. He said that Merkel was always guided by humanitarian ideas and bore the highest levels of responsibility during her leadership of the German government.
Merkel also acknowledged that young people face real fears about the future, referring to the challenges that preoccupy new generations in Germany and Europe.
The Mendelssohn Prize was relaunched in 2025 after a nine-year hiatus. According to the Mayor of Leipzig, the award not only honors Mendelssohn's artistic and cultural legacy, but also recalls the "deep humanity" he embodied and the discrimination he was subjected to as a Jew. The winners will receive a miniature copy of the bronze statue of Mendelssohn, sculpted by the artist U. Jastram, while the original copy, completed in 1993, adorns one of the corridors of the Gewandhaus Hall in Leipzig.
Felix Mendelssohn is considered one of the most prominent German musicians of the nineteenth century. He was a composer, pianist, orchestra leader, and visual artist, and was known for his defense of cultural understanding and tolerance. He served for twelve years as conductor of the Gewandhaus Orchestra in Leipzig, while his last house in the city was turned into a museum.
