Politicians are calling for more cohesion on German Unity Day

On German Unity Day, numerous prominent politicians called for more solidarity in the face of increasing extremism and emotionalism on the Internet. In a sermon in the Berlin Cathedral, Bundestag Vice President Bodo Ramelow, among others, warned against social divisions that are being reinforced by the Internet and “anti-social networks”.

After reunification, there will still be real inequalities and injustices, said the left-wing politician. "To this day, living conditions in East and West are not the same. Employees in East Germany have, on average, 17 percent less gross income than in West Germany," he explained.

At the same time, however, platforms “owned by multi-billionaires who congratulate the AfD on its election victory” tried, among other things, to sow deep mistrust in politics, in parties, public broadcasting, the press and the democratic institutions of our country.

That's why Ramelow called for more understanding and sharing. The earth can feed people twice, the resources are just distributed very unevenly, he said on Saturday at a celebratory service in the Berlin Cathedral, according to the previously distributed speech manuscript. The extreme right is stirring up fears of loss. These can only be combated if it is shown that there is enough for everyone and that politics provides practical solutions.

“We have to concentrate on the problems that we face as a society and less hyperventilate and focus on ourselves in the face of the vote results for the extreme right,” warned the former Thuringian Prime Minister. It's about the social-ecological transformation, jobs in the AI ​​age, education, enormous inequality, good work with nationwide collective bargaining, investments in public infrastructure, affordable living and reliable care.

“There are so many policy areas in which solutions are needed instead of destruction and scaremongering,” said Ramelow. Where people approach each other, spaces for togetherness are created. “Especially our communities, our churches, can be such spaces.” However, politics must provide practical solutions that are noticeable to people.

“Smart woman from East Germany” as Federal President

The Federal Government's Eastern Commissioner, Elisabeth Kaiser, believes that East Germans are still not sufficiently represented in leadership positions in politics, business and society. The SPD politician told the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung” that she thinks the time is ripe for an East German head of state.

Why shouldn’t the next Federal President be a “smart woman from East Germany,” Kaiser asked. From 2012 to 2017, Joachim Gauck, who comes from Rostock, was the eleventh Federal President of the Federal Republic. During GDR times, Gauck was an Evangelical Lutheran pastor.

The Eastern Commissioner recalled that reunification was a time of biographical upheaval and existential worries for many people. These experiences have shaped the East Germans to this day. However, a lot has been achieved since then. Today, East Germany is an economic innovation region, an important science location and the bridge to Eastern Europe.

Former Bundestag President Wolfgang Thierse called for more cohesion and tolerance. The SPD politician compared the situation of East and West Germans to a marriage. Nobody wants a divorce, he said on Deutschlandfunk. However, a proper marriage also includes crises and arguments. Thierse appealed to citizens to respect differences between the federal states. If the inequalities between Saxony and Rhineland-Palatinate are similar to those between north and south, then you have a certain kind of normality.