German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has expressed concern about “growing threats“ to democracy in the country, citing growing support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and the rise of anti-Semitism, Agence France-Presse reports, BTA reports.
“107 years after the founding of the First German Republic, our liberal democracy is under pressure“, Steinmeier said in a speech from Bellevue Palace. “Populists and extremists are undermining institutions, undermining public debate and using fear for their own ends“, he added.
The speech was delivered on the occasion of November 9 - a date associated with historical events such as the proclamation of the republic in 1918, the Nazi pogroms against Jews in 1938 and the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
Steinmeier stressed that racism, Nazi rhetoric and attempts to undermine the constitutional order pose a threat to democracy, regardless of whether they come from “far right, far left or Islamist“ circles.
During his second term, which runs until 2027, the president has seen the AfD's influence grow. In the early parliamentary elections in February, the party came in second place with 20.5% of the vote, leading to the formation of a coalition between the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). The new government is led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has been in power for six months and continues to take a tough stance on immigration. According to the latest polls, the CDU is already challenging the leadership of the AfD.
“It should not cooperate with extremists - neither in the government nor in parliament“, said the president.
Steinmeier also drew attention to the “rise of anti-Semitism“ after the “Hamas“ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, emphasizing: “Anti-Semitism has never disappeared.“
According to official data, 6,236 crimes with anti-Semitic motives were registered in Germany in 2024, which is three times more than in 2022. Almost half (48%) of them were committed by far-right individuals.