Halle – On the Day of German Unity, Chancellor Angela Merkel called for an ongoing commitment to democracy. “Democracy is not just there. But we have to work for them again and again, every day, ”said the CDU politician at the ceremony on Sunday in Halle an der Saale.
Federal Council President Reiner Haseloff (CDU) campaigned for joint projects to bring East and West together, because: “Mentally and structurally, the unity is not yet complete”.
After a peaceful revolution in the GDR in autumn 1989, the East German state united with the Federal Republic on October 3, 1990. Despite billions in investments and great strides in living together, incomes and pensions are still different in both parts of the country. In 2019, full-time employees in the eastern federal states earned on average just under a quarter less than in the western federal states, according to the federal government. The pension value should not be the same until 2024.
Photo: Jan Woitas/dpa
“data-zoom-src =” https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/undeskanzlerin-angela-merkel-cdu-und-reiner-haseloff-cdu-ministerpraesident-von-sachsen-anhalt-un-7443f8a01f1747689e99f23e6cfcb9be-77857072/ Image / 1.bild.jpg “/> und-Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) and Reiner Haseloff (CDU), Prime Minister of Saxony-Anhalt and President of the Federal Council, attend the ceremonyPhoto: Jan Woitas/dpa
The results of the federal election on September 26th also diverged, not only for the established parties CDU, SPD, Left, FDP and Greens. In Thuringia and Saxony, the right-wing populist AfD had become the strongest party, while in the west it became weaker in many places and only had a single-digit share of the vote.
At a church service to kick off the celebrations in Halle, the Catholic Bishop of Magdeburg, Gerhard Feige, urged resistance to populist forces and a “culture of vigilance”. Complicated problems cannot be solved with “hollow phrases or pithy slogans”.
Photo: Jan Woitas/dpa
“data-zoom-src =” https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/kanzlerin-angela-merkel-l–bundespraesident-frank-walter-steinmeier-spd-und-seine-gattin-elke-bued-fba0c0c6ad8f4361aa2e54ce679585ee -77857096 / image / 1.bild.jpg “/> Chancellor Angela Merkel (left), Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (SPD) and his wife Elke Büdenbender (left) attended the ceremonyPhoto: Jan Woitas/dpa
Chancellor Merkel also said that democratic achievements are sometimes handled a little too lightly. During this time, attacks on goods as valuable as freedom of the press can be seen. A public can be experienced in which lies and disinformation are used to stir up resentment and hatred. “Democracy is being attacked,” said Merkel. Social cohesion is being put to the test.
The Chancellor also referred to attacks on people who campaigned for the common good such as firefighters and local politicians. “The verbal brutalization and radicalization that can be experienced there must not only be answered by those who fall victim to it, but must be rejected by everyone.” For all too quickly verbal attacks resulted in violence.
Haseloff, Prime Minister of Saxony-Anhalt and currently President of the Federal Council, said: “There are still some major political differences between East and West.” A strong cohesion could also result from common goals. “Under no circumstances should we allow ourselves to be played off against each other in these difficult times,” said Haseloff.
Haseloff recalled the ruptures that many former citizens of the GDR had to cope with after unification, especially the loss of jobs. At the same time he noted that the success story of the peaceful revolution in the GDR was not being appreciated enough. It is quite suitable for the “founding myth of the united Germany”.
Chancellor candidates Scholz and Laschet in Halle
Photo: Hendrik Schmidt / dpa
“data-zoom-src =” https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/kanzlerkandidat-armin-laschet-c5f12f668e60462498f7bc4adb6e3fa2-77857126/Bild/1.bild.jpg “/> Chancellor candidate Armin LaschetPhoto: Hendrik Schmidt / dpa