According to Federal President Steinmeier, many abroad are irritated by the reports on the right-wing extremist concept of “remigration” in Germany. This makes a credible counter-message all the more important, he said in an interview with daily topics.
During his trip to Vietnam and Thailand, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is, among other things, recruiting well-trained specialists. Even before his departure to Southeast Asia, Steinmeier said in an interview with the that he had noticed many irritating questions in other European countries about the changes in the Federal Republic daily topics. In Vietnam and Thailand too, people are irritated and surprised at some of the statements that have now been made in the political sphere in Germany.
“But I am quite sure that the demonstrations that took place over the weekend also send a credible counter-message,” said the Federal President. “The Democrats in our country stood up and said together: We don’t want to have right-wing extremism in our country, we don’t want to tolerate it.”
A wake-up call for collaboration
A government can never absolve itself of tensions such as those currently visible in Germany, says Steinmeier. The call to work together more quietly in the future and not always bring disputes to the outside world also comes from members of the government themselves.
“Perhaps what we are now experiencing on the streets is also a wake-up call to the democratic center. Or I should perhaps say: all those who want to live together peacefully and in freedom in this country,” said Steinmeier. It is a wake-up call to look for opportunities for cooperation where they were eliminated in the past in the debate between the government and the opposition.
“There are fields in which there are common interests, I’m quite sure of that. There have always been these in the past on major controversial issues,” said Steinmeier. He could imagine that the current situation would cause some people in the government and the opposition to think.
Respectful togetherness
When asked whether he also sees guilt in himself as head of state, Steinmeier says: “We all have to learn. Admitting guilt alone is not enough.” Democracy depends on the commitment of its citizens.
Particularly at the local level, some parties would have difficulty finding the willingness to run for local elected offices. “And that’s also because many people simply no longer want to take on the burden of providing time to make life in the local area better and being insulted for it,” said Steinmeier.
That’s why it’s important to get used to a different tone again: “That we treat each other more respectfully and also more respectfully towards the democratic institutions in our country.”