German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier warned of the growing influence of what he described as "marginal political forces" that seek to question democracy and the rule of law in Germany, stressing that the "Federal Constitutional Court" plays a pivotal role in protecting the democratic system and defending basic rights.
Steinmeier's statements came during a celebration in the city of Karlsruhe today, Monday (9/28/2026), on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Federal Constitutional Court, the highest constitutional judicial body in the country.
Fears of questioning democracy
Steinmeier said that many citizens are concerned about the conditions of democracy and the rule of law in Germany, with the rising influence of political forces on the margins that increasingly question democracy and the rule of law and call them “the system” in an attempt to undermine them.
Without directly referring to the recent electoral successes of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, the German president added that these concerns are “understandable,” but stressed the stability of the state’s constitutional foundation, saying: “The basic law applies to everyone and in all German states.”
He stressed that the Federal Constitutional Court plays an essential role in protecting the Basic Law (the German Constitution) and defending the rights of citizens, as well as ensuring the balance between the institutions of the federal state and between the central government and the states.
“Part of the resilience of our democracy”
Steinmeier stressed the importance of the Constitutional Court in facing current political challenges, saying: “The presence of a strong federal constitutional court is part of the resilience of our democracy.”
He added: "I am convinced that the Federal Constitutional Court is the guarantor of the continuation of the success story of our free democracy, despite all the challenges."
From the womb of the Nazi experience...the birth of the Guardian of the Constitution
The Federal Constitutional Court was officially opened in the city of Karlsruhe on September 28, 1951, in the presence of German President Theodor Heuss and Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, as part of building a new democratic system after World War II and preventing a recurrence of the collapse that paved the way for the rise of Nazism.
The court is the highest constitutional authority in the country, as it includes 16 male and female judges distributed over two chambers, while its rulings have final, binding force and are not subject to appeal.
In his speech, the German President praised the historical role played by the court since its founding, considering that it contributed to redirecting Germany after the experience of the Nazi dictatorship and World War II.
He said that the Karlsruhe judges helped move the country “away from the traditional authoritarian state and toward a modern civil society,” stressing that the court maintained a clear position in confronting the legacy of Nazi rule.
He added that the court's constitutional jurisprudence constantly affirmed that the German Basic Law (the German Constitution) was and remains a "conscious counter-project" to the Nazi regime based on injustice and tyranny.
A counterweight in an era of polarization
Steinmeier believed that the court today plays a role that goes beyond traditional constitutional oversight, as it represents a counterweight in the face of populist discourses and increasing polarization in the public sphere.
He said that public discussions have often become characterized by an increasing degree of "excitement and anger," especially on social media platforms, considering that the court constitutes one of the basic guarantees for maintaining constitutional balance in such circumstances.
Artificial intelligence and the challenges ahead
The German President touched on the challenges posed by modern technology, warning of the dangers resulting from the rapid development of artificial intelligence.
He said that technical systems should not acquire the ability to control economic structures, public communication, or political decision-making processes, warning that the relationship between humans, technology, and the social system may become threatened if appropriate controls are absent.
Steinmeier stressed that promoting innovation must go hand in hand with ensuring security and protecting basic rights, stressing the need to preserve “inviolable” human dignity even in the age of artificial intelligence.
