State ceremony
Steinmeier sees “harder years” coming
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier during his speech at the state ceremony on “75 years of the Basic Law”. photo
© Michael Kappeler/dpa
75 years of the Basic Law – that is reason to look back with gratitude. But also to look ahead to the challenges that lie ahead. The Federal President does both in his speech at the state ceremony.
On the 75th anniversary of the Basic Law, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier prepared the people in Germany for more difficult times and at the same time invoked their will to assert themselves.
At a state ceremony in Berlin, he called for people to defend the achievements of freedom and democracy against their enemies. “Our democracy is defensible. Anyone who fights our liberal democracy today must know that this time they are dealing with a fighting democracy and with fighting democrats,” said Steinmeier.
The Federal President emphasized: “It is clear to me: We are living in a time of testing. There are rough, even tougher years ahead of us. The answer to this cannot and must not be faintheartedness or self-doubt.” It would also be wrong to dream of a more comfortable past or to daily swear that the country will collapse. This is just paralyzing. “We have to assert ourselves now – with realism, with ambition. That is the task of the time. Self-assertion is the task of our time!”
“We must do more for our security”
In this context, Steinmeier pointed to the threat posed by Russia. Nobody knows when Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin’s hunger for power will be satisfied. For him, it is imperative: “We must do more for our security. We must invest in our defense. We must strengthen our alliance. And we need the financial means to do so.” But a strong society is also needed. “A strong society that knows the value of freedom and is prepared to confront threats to freedom, that knows its cohesion.” Military security and social resilience belong together.
The enormous challenges posed by climate change, social security and the economic crisis are triggering new conflicts, said Steinmeier. In his view, another major challenge awaits us here: “We must prepare ourselves for this: We will not have fewer arguments in the coming years, perhaps more. The fight for financial resources will become tougher, and with it, of course, the fight over what is important.” Steinmeier called on the democratic parties to work together where the common whole is affected or threatened. “The unity of the democrats – it is needed when democracy is challenged.”
Around 1,000 police officers at the ceremony
The heads of the five constitutional bodies took part in the outdoor ceremony between the Reichstag and the Chancellery. In addition to the Federal President, these are the Presidents of the Bundestag, Bundesrat and Federal Constitutional Court – Bärbel Bas (SPD), Manuela Schwesig (SPD) and Stephan Harbarth – as well as Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD). Among the approximately 1,100 guests were former Chancellors Gerhard Schröder (SPD) and Angela Merkel (CDU) as well as former Federal President Joachim Gauck. Around 1,000 police officers ensured security and traffic management.
Steinmeier praised the Basic Law as a “great gift” for Germany after the Nazi tyranny, which must be maintained, preserved and defended in everyday life. “I am convinced that this constitution is one of the best things that Germany has produced.” It has since become one of the oldest constitutions in the world and a model for many other constitutions. The constitution created by the 61 fathers and 4 mothers of the Basic Law was the “start of a brighter future.”