On German Unity Day, Steinmeier urges people to have the courage to renew themselves
Federal President warns of extremist forces and calls for decisive political action
Quick Look
- Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier remembered the peaceful revolution and reunification at the ceremony in Bremen.
- He warned of extremist threats to democracy and called on politicians to have the courage to renew and take decisive action.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
German Unity Day commemorates the reunification of Germany in 1990.
On German Unity Day, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier recalled the moving times surrounding reunification. “36 years ago today, a deep wound was healed - a wound that had previously troubled, burdened and kept Germany in what I consider to be an unnatural state of internal division for four decades,” said the Federal President at the ceremony in Bremen.
A lot of time has passed in the meantime, said Steinmeier. The Day of German Unity is there to remember the feelings and the courageous people from back then. It was the first peaceful revolution for freedom and democracy in Germany. The challenges of the present should never displace this moment of happiness in German history, he said. “We must never let this moment be forgotten.” This would be treason.
What worries the Federal President
He expressed concern about the current situation in Germany. Extremist forces endanger freedom, democracy and unity, he said. Politicians must ask themselves without mercy what has been missed when so many people turn away and extremists find resonance. There is a lot to do. Everyone should defend themselves against manipulation and lies. «Our Germany is a good country! “Let’s make sure it stays that way,” he demanded in front of around 1,000 invited guests.
“Have the courage to renew!”
There have been many crises and challenges in the past decades. His experience is that things that are stuck can be resolved and that opposites can be mediated. Large problems could be dealt with in small steps. The key is the political will to leave established routines. He called on politicians to act decisively - even in the face of headwinds. And: “Have the courage to renew!” Confidence and action are important. «Our Germany is a good country. Let's create an even better one!" he said at the end of his powerful speech, for which he received long applause.
Chancellor on X: “We hold our country together”
Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) was also a guest. German unity shows what courageous people can achieve, Merz previously wrote on Platform
Open Questions
- What concrete political steps for renewal are planned?
