Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has called on people to discover Chemnitz at the opening of the Capital of Culture year. "Anyone who has not yet seen Chemnitz, who has not known it, has already missed a lot," said Steinmeier at the official ceremony. The Saxon city is this year's European Capital of Culture alongside the twin city of Nova Gorica - Gorizia in Slovenia and Italy.
Chemnitz has already mastered a number of challenges and upheavals, said the Federal President. "The double renaming alone - Karl-Marx-Stadt for 37 years, then Chemnitz again - all of this symbolizes the shattering of certainties, breaks and new beginnings."
Bitter experience with right-wing extremism
The city has also had bitter experiences with right-wing extremism. Steinmeier recalled the year 2018, when right-wing extremist riots shaped the image of the city throughout Germany. Even then, he said during a visit that dialog was necessary because the differences, contrasts and conflicts would remain.
"This is exactly what the Capital of Culture year is all about. Learning from differences and developing something forward-looking together and thus strengthening our democracy is what matters now," said Steinmeier. "Where the great democratic center of our country creates space, there is no room for despisers of democracy."
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