Mayor Mike Josef emphasized the importance of protecting and defending democracy in his speech on German Unity Day in Frankfurt's Paulskirche. "Democracy will be lost if we do not protect and defend it," he warned. Josef recalled the peaceful fall of the Berlin Wall 35 years ago and the historical connection with German reunification on 3 October 1990, emphasizing that our democracy is only as strong as the people who actively stand up for it.
In doing so, he referred to the Weimar Republic, which failed due to a lack of defence against totalitarian and anti-Semitic attacks. He cited the former Lord Mayor Ludwig Landmann as a role model, who lost everything despite his efforts - his office, his honor and ultimately his life.
In her keynote speech "Building bridges instead of walls", former Bundestag President Prof. Rita Süßmuth spoke about the responsibility that German unity entails for the future. A subsequent panel discussion deepened these thoughts.
Josef emphasized that it is up to us today to learn from the past and not only defend our democracy, but to actively fill it with life. Frankfurt, as a city of internationality and diversity, is a symbol of the close connection between German and European unity. He concluded by calling on everyone to continue fighting for a democratic and free Europe.
After the ceremony, the guests visited exhibitions on the founding of the Federal Republic of Germany and the importance of democracy, before the celebrations continued with a musical citizens' festival on the Römerberg.
