(Gemini Audio)
(de-news.net) — The official commemorations marking the 35th anniversary of German reunification commenced in Saarbrücken with an ecumenical service that set the tone for a series of high-profile events. This solemn opening underscored the historical significance of the occasion and reflected the enduring importance of national unity. The ceremony was attended by key figures from the federal government, including Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Bundestag President Julia Klöckner, Bundesrat Chair Anke Rehlinger, and Constitutional Court President Stephan Harbarth. Delegations from the individual federal states also participated, reinforcing the event’s national scope and inclusive character.
The Saarland, currently holding the rotating presidency of the Bundesrat, served as host for the commemorative proceedings. Festivities in Saarbrücken are scheduled to span several days, with a vibrant public festival already underway in the city’s central district. Organizers anticipated that the number of attendees would reach several hundred thousand by the following day, reflecting widespread public engagement with the anniversary.
Chancellor Merz calls for unity amid transformation
In his address, Chancellor Merz used the occasion to issue a call for renewed national cohesion, urging citizens to embrace unity, confidence, and civic determination in the face of mounting societal challenges. He emphasized that the current period was not only complex but potentially transformative, requiring a concerted effort to strengthen social bonds, dispel entrenched misconceptions, and bridge widening divides within the population.
Merz described the present moment as one of heightened uncertainty, in which foundational questions regarding Germany’s identity and internal balance had resurfaced. He reportedly expressed concern over the waning influence of Western democratic models and warned of the growing assertiveness of autocratic regimes, which he viewed as a direct challenge to liberal democratic values and institutions.
The Chancellor also drew attention to sweeping changes in the global economic and technological landscape, likening the scale of disruption to that experienced during the early phases of industrialization. He suggested that the transformation underway was reshaping economic structures to such an extent that previously accepted social commitments could no longer be sustained in their original form. Within Germany, he identified irregular migration as a contributing factor to social polarization, arguing that it had intensified divisions and placed additional pressure on democratic governance.
Despite outlining these concerns, Merz encouraged the public to view the current juncture not as a threat but as a moment of opportunity. He called for broad-based civic participation in shaping the country’s future and reaffirmed the principle of democratic self-determination, asserting that political authority must remain vested in the collective will of the people rather than concentrated in the hands of a few.
In remarks delivered prior to the ceremony, Merz had already emphasized the importance of solidarity and mutual engagement, portraying reunification as the product of courageous action rather than historical inevitability. He reiterated that Germany’s diversity should be regarded as a source of strength and resilience.
Rehlinger and Zupke highlight Eastern contributions
Bundesrat President Anke Rehlinger paid tribute to the courage of East German citizens who had taken to the streets to protest the authoritarian rule of the GDR. She credited their determination and civic resolve with laying the groundwork for reunification, noting that their actions had created the conditions for a democratic future. While acknowledging the considerable progress achieved over the past three and a half decades, Rehlinger cautioned that the process of integration remained incomplete. She pointed to the persistent under-representation of East Germans in senior positions across politics, business, and civil society as evidence of ongoing disparities.
Evelyn Zupke, the Bundestag’s Commissioner for Victims of the SED regime, also addressed the historical legacy of East German activism. She described 3 October as a day of profound gratitude, particularly for those who had endured political imprisonment under the former regime. Zupke affirmed that the sacrifices made during the reunification process had been worthwhile, especially for individuals who now lived in freedom. She stressed the importance of remembering those who had fought for liberty and self-determination, asserting that without their efforts, neither the peaceful revolution nor the reunification of Germany would have been possible.
Reflection of broader context
French President Emmanuel Macron, attending the commemorations as guest of honour, offered a broader European perspective on German reunification. In his remarks, he characterized the event as a pivotal moment in modern history and a driving force behind European integration. Macron warned that the peace which had prevailed across the continent for the past 80 years was now facing unprecedented threats. He called for renewed vigilance in defending shared democratic values and fundamental freedoms, emphasizing the need for unity in the face of rising geopolitical tensions.
The formal reunification of Germany was enacted on 3 October 1990, following the peaceful revolution in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) during the autumn of 1989. This historic transition led to the accession of Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia into the Federal Republic of Germany, reshaping the political landscape of Europe.
A narrowing income gap
In parallel with the commemorative events, new data released by the Federal Statistical Office and obtained by the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) shed light on the evolving economic relationship between East and West Germany. The figures indicated a gradual narrowing of the income gap, although disparities remained. In 2024, the median disposable household income in the East stood at 32,833 euros, compared to 38,127 euros in the West — a difference of euros 5,294 or 13.9 percent. This represented a modest improvement over previous years: in 2023, the gap had been 5,559 euros (15.2 percent), in 2022 at 5,728 euros (16.2 percent), and in 2021 at 6,026 (17.2 percent). Over the course of four years, the annual income disparity had decreased by approximately 700 euros.
BSW leader Sahra Wagenknecht expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of convergence, arguing that the reduction in the income gap was not the result of meaningful progress in the East but rather a consequence of economic stagnation in the West. She maintained that nominal increases in income had failed to compensate for the sharp rise in living costs, particularly in essential areas such as food and energy.