Overview
- He declared democracy under attack as never since reunification, citing right‑wing extremism gaining support, Russian aggression and a sharp rise in antisemitism since October 7, 2023.
- He said there must be no political cooperation with extremists in governments or parliaments, heightening pressure on centrist parties to maintain a clear firewall.
- He described a party ban as the defensive democracy’s ultima ratio to be legally examined, urging action now and barring constitutional enemies from roles such as judges, teachers or soldiers.
- He warned that online hate and social media dynamics endanger democratic discourse and said the future of democracy will be decided on the internet.
- The AfD accused him of abusing his office after the speech, saying he targeted the party despite not naming it.