(de-news.net) – In his address marking the anniversaries of the 1918 proclamation of the republic, the 1938 pogroms, and the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier emphasized the growing threats to democracy in Germany. He warned that liberal democracy was under pressure from populists and extremists who undermined institutions, polarized discourse, and exploited fear. He noted that radical views were increasingly normalized and questioned how society should respond.
Steinmeier also highlighted the resurgence of antisemitism, which he said had sharply increased since October 2023. He stressed that it emanated from across the political spectrum and within migrant communities, leading to widespread fear among Jewish citizens. He described how Jewish individuals were facing hostility in public life, education, and religious expression.
Reflecting on the legacy of the Peaceful Revolution of 1989, the President observed a growing estrangement between East and West Germans and a fading collective memory of democratic empowerment. He urged citizens to draw strength from past democratic achievements and to actively shape the future.
He underscored the importance of civic engagement, calling on citizens to defend democracy not only in political institutions but also in everyday settings. He emphasized that democracy’s resilience depended on widespread participation and vocal support from the political center.
Addressing the debate over the ban of a political party, Steinmeier described such a measure as a last resort of a defensive democracy. He cautioned against viewing it as the primary solution and insisted that the political center must confront extremism proactively. He concluded by asserting that democracy and freedom were under unprecedented threat in reunified Germany, particularly from the far right, and called on society to resist complacency and uphold democratic values.
Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer, on his part, paid tribute to the peaceful revolution of 1989 and the fall of the Berlin Wall, describing it as an unparalleled event in global history. She emphasized that, in an era where new barriers are being erected—primarily in minds and hearts rather than concrete—the reunification of Germany serves as a lasting reminder. Speaking at the reopening of the redesigned German-German Museum in Mödlareuth, he noted that the collapse of the Wall 36 years ago was the result of a determined struggle by hopeful citizens, marked by nonviolence, prayer, candlelight, and civic courage.
Commemorative events were held across Germany on this Sunday to mark November 9, a date associated with three pivotal historical moments: the 1918 proclamation of the republic by Philipp Scheidemann in Berlin; the 1938 Nazi-led pogroms targeting Jewish institutions and lives; and the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall, prompted by mass demonstrations that led the East German leadership to open the border. The German reunification followed approximately one year later.
