Federal President Frank Walter Steinmeier sees free societies beneath rising stress. «We as a civil society have to be awake and visual. It is about nothing lower than the self-assertion of democracy,” mentioned Steinmeier on the opening of the Democracy Pageant in Neustadt/Weinstrasse (Palatinate). “Caring for democracy is a matter for all of us.”
Town and the Hambach Fortress Basis have been organizing the pageant each two years since 2022 across the anniversary of the Hambach Pageant of 1832. At the moment, tens of 1000’s of individuals on the fortress demanded freedom, nationwide unity and civil rights.
Steinmeier warns
“Let’s not depart the legacy of the Hambach Pageant to those that despise our democracy,” appealed Steinmeier. “That may be a betrayal of historical past and we can’t permit that.”
The main focus of the democracy pageant is dwell music, stage applications and dialogue codecs with visitors from politics, media and science. This time the occasion is beneath the motto “Planting Freedom” – additionally primarily based on Neustadt as the situation of the following state horticultural present.
Prize to Polish constitutional lawyer Bodnar
Steinmeier praised “individuals who don’t permit our nation to be bad-mouthed.” «You do not permit your self to be guided by the doomsday temper that’s fueled day by day. “You possibly can’t do something” – that’s not your tenet.” You counteract dedication. “You aren’t a know-it-all, you’re a do-gooder,” emphasised the Federal President.
On Friday night, Steinmeier was additionally on the presentation of the Hambach Freedom Prize to the Polish constitutional lawyer Adam Bodnar. Steinmeier praised him as a passionate fighter for human rights, democracy and the rule of regulation. The previous Polish Minister of Justice warned early on of threats to the independence of democratic establishments and campaigned in opposition to interference within the judiciary.
Bodnar earned a very excessive fame as a human rights officer (2015-2021). The prize, price 10,000 euros, was awarded for the third time.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:260531-930-152397/1