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Against the German-Russian Hostility – Bridge Lighting on the A9 – A Different Symbol on German Unity Day and Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s SpeechWhile the official celebration of German Unity Day took place in Schwerin, where Chancellor Olaf Scholz delivered a speech praising German democracy and freedom, a very different atmosphere prevailed elsewhere. On the bridge over the A9, just before the Rippachtal interchange, the now well-known "Bridge Lighting" also took place this Thursday. Here, government critics gathered, expressing their discontent with the current political situation in Germany through colorful lights and banners. Instead of stiff protocols and official speeches like Scholz’s in Schwerin, the participants of the Bridge Lighting clearly enjoyed themselves. A video accompanying the event was set to the well-known song "Moskau" by Dschingis Khan – a clear reference to the still relevant demand for peace with Russia, which many attendees support. In a time when relations with Russia are tense, this remains an important issue for many.
Olaf Scholz emphasized in his speech in Schwerin: “This is a special year, marking the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall this autumn and at the same time the 75th birthday of the Basic Law of the Federal Republic. This double anniversary is a good reason to celebrate a Germany that is free, democratic, constitutional – and united.” Criticism of the Basic Law and Democracy During the PandemicThese words sound nice, but many critics—including participants of the Bridge Lighting—see reality differently. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, there were massive restrictions on fundamental rights, which many citizens and experts believe were temporarily suspended. The Basic Law, which Scholz praises, had to be “reactivated” in many areas only through persistent legal battles. Civil rights advocates, lawyers, and activists had to go to court to fight for the return of fundamental rights such as freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, and the right to bodily integrity. A real political reckoning with the "pandemic" still does not take place. Responsibility and consequences continue to be avoided.Freedom of expression, which Scholz describes as central to German democracy, is increasingly perceived as restricted by many. Government critics report house searches and arrests due to statements that do not align with the official line. These experiences contradict the image of an unhindered functioning democracy as portrayed by Scholz in his speech. Access to information, especially Russian media, is also becoming increasingly difficult. Critical voices and alternative perspectives, especially regarding the Ukraine war, are often censored or suppressed. This starkly contrasts with the idea of diversity of opinion and free information that should characterize a vibrant democracy. Freedom, Democracy, and the Rule of Law at Risk?When Scholz claims that Germany is "free, democratic, and constitutional," many citizens question this statement. Official politics seems to allow less and less room for critical discussion. Instead, those who hold dissenting opinions are defamed, monitored, or even legally prosecuted. All this points to a dangerous tendency to increasingly undermine the fundamental values of democracy.The Bridge Lighting over the A9 may be a small, symbolic act, but it reflects the growing discontent of many people who no longer feel represented by the political class. While Scholz and his government celebrate Germany’s unity, many still feel that freedom, democracy, and the rule of law in Germany are on trial—and the fight for these values is far from over. Further Criticism of Olaf Scholz’s SpeechThere are several other points of criticism regarding both the rhetoric and content of the speech:Linguistic flaws: The speech contains linguistic errors that interrupt the flow and partly impair clarity. For example, there are many misspelled or misused words such as “seh geehrte Damen und Herren” or “zusammenfügen unserer beiden früheren Teilstaaten.” The speech appears underdeveloped and poorly edited, which could give an unprofessional impression. Monotony in language: The language of the speech sometimes sounds monotonous and repeats itself in some points. More rhetorical variety, vivid examples, and emotional language could have strengthened the impact. The frequent repetition of terms like “unity,” “success,” and “cooperation” without deeper nuance contributes to the monotony. Idealization of the past: Scholz repeatedly emphasizes the “success” of reunification, but the speech might be perceived as overly positive. Although he mentions challenges and disappointments of many East Germans, the concrete analysis of many social and economic problems still felt today remains rather superficial. A more nuanced view of the existing disparities would have added depth and credibility to the speech. Lack of concreteness in proposed solutions: The speech addresses many problems, such as economic differences between East and West, the underrepresentation of East Germans in leadership roles, or sparser population density. However, Scholz remains relatively vague about how these issues will be tackled. Statements like “investments, higher minimum wages, more collective bargaining” remain abstract and lack clear measures or political strategies to address the challenges. One-sided emphasis on the German success story: Scholz highlights reunification mainly as a success story and underscores how much has been achieved since 1990. However, there is a lack of deeper engagement with the emotional and social consequences for East Germans, who suffered significant losses in quality of life and security due to reunification. Acknowledging these social tensions would have given the speech more balance. The role of the AfD and right-wing extremist movements: Scholz briefly mentions the electoral successes of populist and nationalist forces in East Germany but remains superficial in his analysis. A more thorough engagement with the reasons behind this political development could have better addressed the current concerns of many East Germans. The phenomenon is more condemned than constructively analyzed. Unclear vision for the future: Scholz calls for working together, but the vision for the future remains vague. What exactly does unity mean in the coming decades? How should social integration look in an increasingly diverse and globalized world? A stronger vision for the coming years would have given the speech a more optimistic and purposeful tone. Disparities Between East and WestIn his speech, Olaf Scholz addressed the still existing inequalities between East and West Germany and acknowledged that German unity is still not fully “complete” 34 years after reunification. He pointed out ongoing differences in areas such as income, wealth, company locations, and the representation of East Germans in leadership positions.Scholz highlights some key disparities:Income: In the East, incomes remain lower than in the West, despite East Germans working more hours.Wealth: Wealth in the eastern federal states is significantly lower, which also affects inheritance and donations. This wealth gap is a major factor perpetuating long-term inequalities. Economy and Research: There are fewer corporate headquarters and research institutions in the East. East Germans remain underrepresented in leadership positions in media, business, administration, and the military. Rural regions: East Germany is, on average, less densely populated, which negatively impacts economic development and infrastructure. Scholz’s Solutions and ApproachesScholz offers several approaches to overcome these inequalities:Investments and collective bargaining: To reduce income disparities, Scholz relies on increased investments, higher minimum wages, closer social partnerships, as well as strengthening collective bargaining and proper collective agreements. These measures aim to raise wages in the East and bring them closer to Western levels. Active regional policy: Scholz emphasizes the importance of active regional policy to strengthen disadvantaged rural areas. This should help reduce economic differences between the more sparsely populated areas in the East and the western regions. Representation of East Germans in leadership positions: According to Scholz, the federal government has adopted a concept to systematically increase the proportion of East Germans in leadership roles within the federal administration. Scholz also calls on other institutions and industries to appoint more East Germans to leadership positions to achieve better representation. Recognition of DDR-era skills and experiences: Scholz speaks about the importance of East German skills and experiences, also developed before 1989, for example in microelectronics. This expertise should continue to be utilized to promote East Germany as a business location. Scholz’s Position on the "Completed" German Unity |
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