“The Federal Republic of 2022 is a strong democracy at the heart of Europe,” said Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz in his welcoming address on the Day of German Unity. He stressed that the Federal Republic with its 16 states is a lively and diverse country “that we can all be proud of”. Scholz acknowledged the courage that East Germans proved in their peaceful revolution in the autumn of 1989. “They brought lasting change to our country.” The motto chosen by the Federal Government for this year’s 3rd of October is “We have grown together and shared growth”. 

Germany’s visit to Thuringia

The official Day of German Unity celebrations are taking place in Thuringia’s state capital Erfurt this year. Highlights of the agenda included the ecumenical service held at Erfurt Cathedral on 3 October and the subsequent Day of Unity ceremony at the “Theater Erfurt” playhouse. Among the attendees were the leaders of the constitutional bodies: Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, President of the Bundestag Bärbel Bas, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, President of the Federal Constitutional Court Stephan Harbarth and the event’s host Bodo Ramelow – the President of the Bundesrat and Prime Minister of Thuringia.

Scholz: we want to own the future together

“What belongs together has grown together, and Germany will continue its shared growth,” Federal Chancellor Scholz explained in Erfurt. “We want to own the future together“. He added that this future would be different, as it would be carbon-neutral, and that investments in renewable energies and modern workplaces would “give rise to prosperity all across Germany”.

Scholz said that it was “a good and important sign at the right time” that the festivities were being held in Thuringia. He mentioned that the fall of the Iron Curtain had been accompanied by democratic movements all over eastern Europe, and that many countries were now part of the European Union. The Federal Chancellor stressed that together we form “a unity of democratic, constitutional states based on social market economies”: “This will make us strong, also in the future”.

“What belongs together has grown together” – statement made by Federal Chancellor Scholz on the occasion of the Day of German Unity 2022 festivities in Erfurt.

Restoring the validity of the principles of a peace order

Many countries were welcome, now as well, to join this “union of democracies”, Scholz said, adding that this was particularly important in a time in which the European peace order was “jeopardised by Russia’s brutal attack on Ukraine”. He pointed out that it was guaranteed that Germany and Europe would stick together and “support Ukraine and its citizens in their fight for freedom, unity and justice”. Another goal was to promote the restoration of the valid principles of the European peace order, he said, adding that the Russian president was being called upon to “end his war”.

The war had consequences for Europe and the whole world, and the threat of hunger was increasing in many countries, Scholz explained. Germany had been preparing for the winter and important decisions had been made early on to secure the energy supply, he said. The Federal Chancellor emphasised that it would be key for the future to organise supply in such a way “that nobody can blackmail us, that nobody can put us under pressure”. “If we stick together and continue to grow together, we will succeed in this.” 

The Federal Government introduces itself

The Federal Government took the opportunity to introduce itself to the citizens and to talk to them at the event. The 15 Federal Ministries and the Chancellery were presented at the citizens’ fair on the cathedral square in short films that were shown on an LED cube.

Thuringia’s Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow was among the first visitors to the Federal Government’s stall on Saturday. He watched a film about Erfurt and a film about the historic events surrounding Germany’s unity on the video cube. The installation is visible far across the cathedral square. The Federal Government presented itself in the direct vicinity of the stalls of the Bundesrat, Bundestag and the Federal Constitutional Court, as well as Erfurt Cathedral that towers over the market square.

Not just in Erfurt but also online: watch short films to find out what each of the Federal Ministers thinks about present-day Germany. About the ways in which the country has changed and which are the most pressing tasks. In addition, employees of the Federal Ministries explain their work.

Many visitors took the opportunity to talk to staff members of the Federal Press Office, despite the mixed weather conditions. On Sunday, the Deputy Government Spokesperson Wolfgang Büchner was also available to answer the visitors’ questions. The Deputy Head of the Federal Press Office Johannes Dimroth had been there for personal conversations the day before.

Alongside answers to current political questions, visitors were also offered information material, such as the brochure “Speeches at a historic turning point” by Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Barcamp about social cohesion

The Federal Government was represented in Erfurt from 30 September in the context of a barcamp about social cohesion. The central question addressed at the barcamp was: “How can we (re)enter into conversation with each other?” The format was chosen deliberately to avoid dictating topics and instead invite participants to introduce their own questions, ideas and theories.

“Democracy relies on trust more than any other form of government,” said Johannes Dimroth, Deputy Head of the Federal Press Office at the start of the event. But how is trust achieved? More than 70 experts from NGOs, foundations, the political sphere, volunteer organisations and associations met at the venue “Zughafen Kulturbahnhof” in Erfurt to discuss the following questions in 16 sessions: “How diverse is German unity?”, “How can we fight fake news and polarisation in Central Germany?”, “What can be done to promote civic courage?”, “How can workplaces become places of dialogue?” Some answers were also given in the keynote speech held by Jérémie Gagné of More in Common, an association that conducts research on the issue of “social cohesion”. Gagné listed train compartments, DIY stores and beer gardens as examples of places for conversation. The barcamp was presented by Hanna Gleiß, Managing Director of the anti-hate speech network Das NETTZ, Vernetzungsstelle gegen Hate Speech. 

Further information is available here:
Website dedicated to the Day of German Unity 2022 in Erfurt and
topic page “German Unity” of the Federal Government