Overview
- In a Schloss Bellevue address, he identified right-wing extremism gaining public support and Russian aggression as the principal threats to freedom.
- He stated there must be no political cooperation with extremists in governments or parliaments.
- He called a party ban the republic’s ultima ratio to be carefully assessed under the law and said the country cannot stand idle while that is examined.
- He urged parties of the center to maintain firm boundaries, avoid adopting extremist language, and engage topics like migration and security without ceding them to the far right.
- He appealed for civic involvement and stronger enforcement of democratic rules online, warned of a surge in antisemitism since October 7, 2023, and said opponents of the constitution must be barred from public offices.