On German Unity Day, Steinmeier laments 'bitter setbacks'
Deutsche Welle · LC · trust 32/100
Germany's president has used his final Unity Day speech to warn the hopes of the reunification era have suffered "bitter setbacks." DW has the latest.
https://p.dw.com/p/5NgtA German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has warned of 'bitter setbacks' to hopes for democracy and international cooperation since reunification Image: Sina Schuldt/dpa/picture alliance Advertisement Skip next section What you need to know What you need to know Germany's leaders have gathered in the northern city of Bremen for official festivities marking Unity Day German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier warned that Germany's democracy is being challenged again, pointing to the threat from right-wing extremism In his final Unity Day speech as president, Steinmeier said some of the hopes surrounding reunification have not been fulfilled The national holiday commemorates October 3, 1990, when the former East Germany joined the Federal Republic of Germany Eastern Germany commissioner Elisabeth Kaiser says the country's next president should come from the east, and be a woman She says eastern Germans remain underrepresented in positions of power more than three decades after reunification Here is a roundup of top stories from and about Germany on Saturday, October 3, 2026:
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Published 10/03/2026 Published October 3, 2026 last updated 10/03/2026 last updated October 3, 2026 Watch DW's live coverage of Unity Day https://p.dw.com/p/5NhFB Skip next section Steinmeier warns German democracy faces renewed threats 10/03/2026 October 3, 2026 Steinmeier warns German democracy faces renewed threats German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has warned that Germany's democracy is once again being challenged.
The 70-year-old used his final German Unity Day speech as president to reflect on more than three decades of political change.
"I thought everyone had learned the lesson from history, and now I see supporters of right-wing extremism seeking to erase the memory of the victims of the Holocaust," Steinmeier said at the official ceremony in Bremen.
"I believed our democracy was secure and now have to experience it being challenged anew."
Steinmeier, whose second and final term as president ends in March, said his expectations after the changes that began in 1989 had been greater than what ultimately became reality.
Those expectations had included greater progress for liberal democracy and for "the undeniable reason of international cooperation," he said, acknowledging that there had been "bitter setbacks."
Looking ahead to his successor, Steinmeier warned that the presidency was "not an office to be taken lightly."
He said promoting social cohesion and preserving the country's unity would become more demanding in the coming years.
The official German Unity Day celebrations began earlier Saturday with an ecumenical service at Bremen's St. Peter's Cathedral attended by Steinmeier, Chancellor Friedrich Merz and other senior officials.
More than 550 events are being held in Bremen through Sunday to mark the 36th anniversary of German reunification. The celebrations rotate between Germany's 16 states and are hosted by the state currently holding the presidency of the Bundesrat, the upper house of parliament. Bremen currently holds the presidency.
10/03/2026 October 3, 2026 Germany marks 36 years since reunification in Bremen Germany is marking German Unity Day on Saturday with celebrations across the country, with the main national festivities taking place in Bremen.
The national holiday commemorates October 3, 1990, when the five states of the former East Germany joined the Federal Republic of Germany, formally reunifying the country after more than four decades of division.
Following a service at Bremen Cathedral, political leaders and other guests are gathering at the Die Glocke concert hall for the official ceremony.
More than 400,000 people are expected to attend the public festival in Bremen, which runs through Sunday, with hundreds of events including free concerts, discussions, guided tours and exhibitions.
The festivities are being held under the motto "Many Strengths — One Country." Bremen is hosting the central celebrations because it currently holds the rotating presidency of the Bundesrat, Germany's upper house of parliament.
More than three decades after reunification, significant differences between eastern and western Germany remain , including in income, wealth and representation in senior positions.
Eastern Germany in western hands To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
10/03/2026 October 3, 2026 East Germany commissioner wants eastern woman as president The German government's commissioner for eastern Germany has called for the country's next president to come from the east, saying eastern Germans remain underrepresented in positions of power.
Elisabeth Kaiser, a politician with the center-left Social Democratic Party, told the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung newspaper that none of Germany's current top political leaders comes from eastern Germany.
"That can quickly create the impression that eastern Germans play no role in leading our country and are only sitting at the children's table," Kaiser said.
"I think the time is right for an eastern German head of state again," she added. "Why shouldn't the next federal president be a smart woman from eastern Germany?"
President Frank-Walter Steinmeier's second and final term ends in March 2027. Germany's Federal Convention is due to elect his successor on January 30.
Joachim Gauck, who was born in Rostock and served from 2012 to 2017, is the only president from eastern Germany since reunification.
Kaiser also said significant differences remained between eastern and western Germany in income, wealth and representation in leadership positions.
"These differences must be overcome in order to…
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