Speech at the "Chemnitz for Democracy and Humanity" rally on 24 January 2024

Dear people of Chemnitz,

I am delighted that you are all here today to once again send a strong signal in favour of the values that form the foundation of our society.

You and I, we stand here together for diversity, tolerance, cosmopolitanism and freedom of expression. For the dignity of all people and peaceful coexistence! In our city, in our Free State, in the entire country.

Together, we stand for a constitutional state in which all people can live without fear. For a country that is an integral part of an international community of states in which respect for human rights, peace and international understanding as well as democratic participation form the basis for coexistence.

When these values, which are firmly anchored in our Basic Law, are attacked, when some people openly or covertly call for our democracy to be attacked, then this must not go unchallenged. Then it is time to stand up and show our face. That is why we are here today and I am grateful to you.

Yes - we are living in a time in which doubts are growing. Doubts about decisions, doubts about the people involved, doubts about the path we have taken. Doubts in themselves are not a bad thing - it is just questionable how these doubts are increasingly being voiced and knowingly misused by enemies of democracy.

Of course it is legitimate to freely express one's opinion on political decisions. Yes, you are also allowed to rant at "those at the top" and vent your anger in public. After all, it is precisely this freedom of expression that our Basic Law aims to ensure. And yes - a strong democracy must also be able to withstand criticism and harsh controversy.

But one thing must be clear to everyone: freedom of expression ends where human dignity is violated. Where people are incited to hate others, where people are belittled or labelled as inferior.

Where this happens, the boundaries of our free and democratic basic order are overstepped! And we as a society must take a firm stand against this!

And that is precisely why we are here today!

Because those who shout ever louder and ever more often, who present supposed scapegoats for every problem, who repeatedly suggest seemingly simple solutions, are not interested in democratic discourse and certainly not in political alternatives.

No - these people want something completely different! They want

• Germany's economic and political isolation,
• a rejection of the welfare state and
• a departure from the European idea of peaceful coexistence in a united Europe.

But that is not their only goal!

When right-wing extremists talk blatantly about "remigration" today, it means nothing other than that millions of people are to be driven out of our country against their will. It means nothing other than the dull slogan "Foreigners out!".

This affects us all together:

Family members, neighbours, friends, colleagues. People who do not fit into the right-wing world view simply because of their origin are to be deported en masse, regardless of how long they have been living in our country. And in case of doubt, even by force.

But we will not allow this to happen! That is why we are here today, together with many hundreds of thousands of like-minded people, to make it clear to the extremists in our country:

• We do not want your ideology, which is based on hatred and marginalisation!
• We have seen through who you are and what you want!
• And we will not leave this country to you!

Democracy is the foundation of our liberal society and we here in the east of the republic in particular know that this democracy has been hard-won. It is up to all of us to preserve and strengthen it. Especially in times of uncertainty and social upheaval, it is important to build bridges, to listen to each other, to be open to arguments and willing to compromise. Even if this is sometimes exhausting.

I was in Bad Ischl, Austria, last weekend for the opening of the Capital of Culture Year 2024. It was a joyful, exuberant atmosphere, with an international audience that was warmly welcomed by the locals.

One performance in particular stuck with me. That of Thomas Neuwirth, better known as Conchita Wurst. Not only musically, but also politically. The singer appealed to the audience with regard to this year's elections in Austria: "We have an election year ahead of us. Please everyone go and vote. And think about humanity when you vote. Otherwise it will be pretty dark."

This year, the direction in which our city and our country develop is also in our hands!

That's why I appeal to everyone: use your right to vote and take a close look! Because only those who participate can help shape the future of our country. With your vote, you decide the future of our democracy.

Help to ensure that Chemnitz remains an authentic, cosmopolitan city that presents itself to its neighbours in a variety of ways as the European Capital of Culture in 2025 and welcomes guests from Germany and abroad with joy and open arms!

Let us show that we can be proud of our city and our country and that it is not the rioters and diehards who set the tone here!

Erich Kästner said of the atrocious events from 1933 to 1945: "They should have been combated by 1928 at the latest. Later it was too late. We must not wait until the struggle for freedom is called treason. We must not wait until the snowball has turned into an avalanche. You have to crush the rolling snowball. No one can stop the avalanche. It only comes to rest when it has buried everything underneath it. That is the lesson, that is the conclusion of what happened to us in 1933. That is the conclusion we must draw from our experiences."


Therefore:

Let us work together to ensure that history does not repeat itself! Let us be vigilant and stand in the way of extremist endeavours! Together, let us protect our country from the enemies of democracy. Not just today, but every day anew!

Thank you very much!

(The spoken word prevails)