Steinmeier calls for the defense of democracy on German Unity Day

On German Unity Day, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier called for a resolute defense of democracy. At the ceremony in Bremen, he also warned of a further rise in extremist forces in Germany, also fueled by lies and manipulation on social media.

“And all of this is accompanied by an unbearable political demagoguery of extremist forces who enjoy destruction, mock and threaten other people. And that doesn’t just endanger freedom and democracy,” said Steinmeier. “It also endangers our internal unity. And we can’t want that.”

Is Berlin like Weimar? Steinmeier: Question “not yet decided”

Almost four decades after German unification, large parts of society declared their distrust of the political order of the Federal Republic. Every vote counts and should be taken seriously. He said: "That's precisely why we cannot avoid the fact that a quarter or more are saying with their voting decision that they are turning away from important fundamental decisions of the republic."

The discrediting of democratic processes, the radicalization of the public and the defamation of compromise should be a warning. “It will always be different, but whether Berlin will become more similar to the Weimar Republic is a question that has not yet been decided. But we have it in our hands,” said Steinmeier.

Democracy is “re-contested”

He thought that everyone had learned the lesson from history and now had to see how right-wing extremist partisans today want to erase the memory of the victims of the Holocaust. Steinmeier said: “I thought our democracy was secure and I have to find out that it is being challenged again. Yes, and that's why: in the future it will be about the self-assertion of democracy."