Politics · Germany · 58 mins ago
Merkel urges Germans to defend democracy at Biermann anniversary event
Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged citizens to actively defend democracy at a Berlin event marking 50 years since singer-songwriter Wolf Biermann was expelled from East Germany.
She said democracy needs more than free elections and depends on citizens defending its values.
Merkel pointed to human dignity, an independent judiciary and press, freedom of speech, the separation of powers and protection for minorities.
Biermann was known for songs and poems critical of East Germany’s ruling Socialist Unity Party, which had barred him from performing for years.
After a concert in Cologne in 1976, East Germany stripped Biermann of his citizenship and barred his return.
His expulsion prompted protests and solidarity in the East German cultural scene, and Merkel said his songs still encourage people to act.
Angela Merkel urged Germans to defend democracy at an event marking 50 years since Wolf Biermann was stripped of his East German citizenship.
She said democracy needs citizens to stand up for the values of the state, including human dignity, freedom of expression and minority rights.
Merkel said Biermann’s songs remain an encouragement to take action, though under very different circumstances today.
The event was held at Kino International in Berlin by the Federal Foundation for the Study of the Communist Dictatorship in East Germany.
Biermann was stripped of his citizenship after a concert in Cologne in 1976 and was not allowed to return to East Germany.
- Who
- Former German chancellor Angela Merkel urged citizens to defend democracy. The event honoured singer-songwriter Wolf Biermann.
- What
- Merkel called for people to stand up for democracy and the values of the state.
- When
- At an event marking the 50th anniversary of Biermann’s expulsion in 1976. The event date is not stated.
- Where
- Kino International in Berlin.
- Why
- The event marked the 50th anniversary of East Germany stripping Biermann of his citizenship after a concert in the West.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Biermann gave a concert in Cologne in the West and was barred from returning to East Germany.
Merkel watched a broadcast of Biermann’s concert on ARD, having travelled from Leipzig to Templin to see it.
Merkel spoke at a Berlin event marking 50 years since Biermann was stripped of his citizenship.
- Event venue
- Kino International, Berlin
- Event organiser
- Federal Foundation for the Study of the Communist Dictatorship in East Germany
- Anniversary
- 50 years since Biermann was stripped of his citizenship
- Biermann’s Cologne concert
- 13 November 1976
- Biermann’s age at the time of moving to East Germany
- 16
3 sources
What people are saying
We as citizens must once again stand up loudly and decisively for this state.
We sense that democracy is more vulnerable than we thought, that it needs more than just free elections.
Wolf Biermann is close to us also because his songs are such encouragements to take action.
When people speak ill of her, then I defend her.