Steinmeier warns extremism threatens democracy and urges reformist course
At the German Unity Day ceremony in Bremen, the president called for a firm response to extremists and continued government reform.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier warned on October 3, 2026, that rising extremism and populism pose a danger to Germany's democratic order and national cohesion, and he urged the federal government to press ahead with reforms despite resistance.
Steinmeier sets boundaries for dialogue with extremists
Speaking at the official ceremony for German Unity Day in Bremen, Steinmeier said that recent trends amount to “bitter reversals” of the hopes placed in democracy and international cooperation since reunification. He accused populist forces of undermining representative institutions and called for a determined response to political extremists, condemning what he described as the “unreasonable discrediting of the Federal Republic of Germany.”
Addressing the ruling coalition of Christian Democrats and Social Democrats, Steinmeier appealed for a steady, professional and persistent government policy to tackle the deeper economic and social causes of insecurity among citizens. After fresh disagreements in the coalition, he said he had held talks with several leading politicians in recent days to stress the need for sustained reform.
He argued that reforms are risky but necessary: “Reforms always carry risk — but we take that risk in the hope that we will take our fate into our own hands. When the goal is right, one must persevere on the path,” Steinmeier said, adding, “Therefore I say: Stay resolute, even when the wind blows in our faces — have the courage to renew!” He warned that Germany is passing through a “truly deep crisis” and that growth cannot resume if things remain unchanged.
Steinmeier also singled out foreign influences he says threaten German democracy, pointing to destabilizing ideas spread by right‑wing populists in the United States and to manipulative actors from Russia. “The unbearable political demagoguery of extremist forces, who delight in destruction and mock and intimidate others, today threatens not only freedom and democracy. It also endangers our unity,” he said.
On foreign policy, Steinmeier reiterated support for Ukraine while urging greater diplomatic effort to shape the conditions for future peace and security in Europe. He welcomed moves to strengthen the German armed forces but stressed the need for a “mature approach to the relationship between military force and diplomatic wisdom.”
Photo: press material from the event
