Reunification was 33 years ago. October 3rd commemorates this as a national holiday – this year it will be celebrated with a celebration in Hamburg. The highlight is on the program today.
After kicking off with hundreds of thousands of visitors at the citizens’ festival, the celebrations for German Unity Day are reaching their climax in Hamburg today. At the ceremony in the Elbphilharmonie this year, Hamburg’s Mayor Peter Tschentscher (SPD) and the President of the Federal Constitutional Court, Stephan Harbarth, will give a speech. Around 1,300 guests are expected, including the heads of government of the federal states and the entire head of state. Before that, there will be an ecumenical service in the main church of St. Michaelis – the “Michel”.
The celebrations began on Monday with a large community festival. According to the spokesman for the community festival, more than 300,000 visitors gathered around the town hall and the Binnenalster. During the “Night of Unity” they were able to enjoy a program of live music, dance performances and exhibitions at many locations in the city center until late at night.
Counter-demo of the left scene
However, there was also a demonstration with several hundred participants in the evening against the celebrations for German Unity Day. Shortly after it took off, the police stopped the train, as dpa reporters reported. The demonstrators from the left-wing scene had unveiled a banner that insulted Germany in vulgar terms.
In total, the demonstrators showed two posters with suspected criminal content, the police said in a statement on the operation. The train was therefore stopped. “Emergency forces asked the meeting participants to refrain from showing the banners,” it said. After the demonstrators had complied with this and the request to take off their masks, the participants were able to continue on their route.
A total of 750 people gathered for the final rally in the St. Pauli district. According to their own statements, the police initiated several criminal proceedings because of the posters, the masks and the occasional pyrotechnics that were set off.
Merz: Reunification is not yet “emotionally” complete
Numerous politicians commented on the occasion of 33 years of German unity. For example, CDU leader Friedrich Merz told the Germany editorial network that German unity was 100 percent complete in terms of constitutional law. “Emotionally, she isn’t there yet.” Merz also referred to what he sees as justified East German criticism, for example when it comes to representation: “The fact that we continue to underrepresent the East in the management echelons of business, society, politics and the media is rightly criticized by the East German side .”
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
