施泰因迈尔在统一日警告民主面临极右翼威胁

德国总统施泰因迈尔在不来梅举行的第36届统一日官方庆典上发表演讲，对民主前景表示担忧。1施泰因迈尔在其任期内最后一次统一日演讲中警告民主面临右翼极端主义的新威胁，并表示："我以为每个人都从历史中吸取了教训，现在却看到极右翼分子支持者试图抹去大屠杀受害者的记忆。"1他坦言对统一后的进展感到失望，称期待的民主进步出现了"苦涩的挫折"。1

德国将于2027年1月30日选举新总统。1施泰因迈尔的第二任期将于2027年3月结束。1德国东德事务专员伊丽莎白·凯撒呼吁下一任总统应来自东德且为女性，以改善东德在高层职位中的代表性不足。1据悉，约阿希姆·高克是统一后唯一来自东德的总统，任期为2012年至2017年。1

不来梅此次庆典规模庞大，超过55万人预计参加公共节庆活动，当地共举办超过550场纪念活动。1

President Frank-Walter Steinmeier delivered what he described as his final German Unity Day address during his term, delivering a stark warning about the threats facing democracy as Germany marked its 36th anniversary of reunification in Bremen 1. Speaking at the official ceremony, Steinmeier expressed alarm over the resurgence of far-right extremism, stating: "I thought everyone had learned from history, but now I see supporters of the far right attempting to erase the memory of Holocaust victims" 1.

Steinmeier acknowledged experiencing "bitter setbacks" in the democratic progress he had anticipated following reunification 1. His remarks came as Germany prepares for a new presidential election scheduled for January 30, 2027, with his second term concluding in March 2027 1. The celebrations in Bremen encompassed over 550 commemorative events, with more than 550,000 attendees anticipated for public festivities 1.

Adding to the discussion about Germany's political future, Elisabeth Kaiser, the commissioner for East German affairs, called for the next president to be both a woman and someone from the former East German region, highlighting the underrepresentation of eastern Germans in senior leadership positions 1. This appeal echoed a historical precedent: Joachim Gauck, the only president from the former East Germany since reunification, served from 2012 to 2017 1.