Politics · Germany · 6 hrs ago
Merkel warns populist parties against dividing Germans
Angela Merkel warned that populist parties were trying to divide people at an award ceremony in Leipzig, Germany.
She said these parties draw lines between ordinary people and elites, and between citizens based on how long they have held citizenship.
Merkel said all German citizens belong to the people, including those who became citizens more recently.
Her remarks referred to Germany’s democratic principle that political power comes from the people.
She said the promise of living in freedom was under pressure.
She warned that division can stir up hatred and envy, and called for equal dignity among citizens.
Merkel received the 2026 International Mendelssohn Prize in the Europe category; the ceremony also gave its music award to Jörg Widmann.
Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned that populist parties were trying to divide the population.
She said their efforts to distinguish between groups of citizens could stir hatred and envy.
Merkel said all German citizens belong to the people, regardless of when they became citizens or whether they came from East Germany or Syria.
She spoke at the presentation of the 2026 International Mendelssohn Prize in Leipzig.
Merkel received the prize in the Europe category.
- Who
- Angela Merkel, Germany’s former chancellor.
- What
- She warned that populist parties were trying to divide the population and stir hatred.
- When
- At the 2026 International Mendelssohn Prize presentation; the article was published on November 1, 2026.
- Where
- Leipzig’s Gewandhaus, Germany.
- Why
- Merkel said populist parties were trying to divide people and distinguish between groups of citizens.
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- Speaker
- Angela Merkel
- Event
- 2026 International Mendelssohn Prize presentation
- Venue
- Gewandhaus, Leipzig
- Award category
- Europe
- Published
- November 1, 2026
1 source
What people are saying
All German citizens are the people.
One tries to stir hatred, one tries to distinguish and thereby arouse envy.