Plea for democracy: Saxony celebrates Germany's unity

On the occasion of German Unity Day, politicians in the Saxon state parliament made pleas for democracy in memory of the Peaceful Revolution of 1989. At the ceremony in Dresden, Parliament President Matthias Rößler warned against fundamentally questioning the free and democratic constitutional state out of dissatisfaction with current politics. Democracy "as a constitutional order of equality in freedom" is without alternative.

The dissatisfaction with political decisions is understandable "when those responsible close their eyes to elementary realities instead of actively tackling the challenges." However, all this is "of course not" reason enough to question the big picture. "Let us rejoice in the freedom we have achieved through our own efforts, let us value and preserve our democracy, let us together secure the stability and hard-earned prosperity of our society," the CDU politician appealed.

Germany is "a free country, a great country, embedded in a united Europe," Rößler said. Like any other, he said, it is not without flaws, without blemishes. "Let us raise our heads for that very reason. Let's look forward with confidence!" The strength of this free order, he said, lies in different ways of looking at issues, "not in prohibitions on thought or speech," and in binding them in political compromises flanked by the rule of law.

"Oct. 3 is a day of joy, for celebration, our national holiday," said Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer. Germany has been reunited in freedom and democracy for 33 years, he said. The CDU politician recalled the tremendous awakening in 1989 in the then GDR, hope and certainty about the future. That, he said, was the basis of the unity that "today is a matter of course." Through the courageous far-sighted policy of the federal government of the time, perseverance, negotiations and numerous talks, "it was possible to achieve the historical miracle that many generations had only dreamed of and, at the same time, a great political feat after the end of the bloc confrontation in a united Europe." And the people of Germany, "many tacklers, encouragers and shapers" had "succeeded in a tremendous work of reconstruction" afterwards.