Overview
- Germany’s president said democracy and freedom are under greater strain than at any time since reunification, citing gains by right‑wing extremists.
- He urged a strict political firewall against the AfD, cautioned against reflexively branding opponents as right‑wing, and called party bans a constitutional last resort.
- He pressed for tighter enforcement of democratic rules on social media, arguing that the future of political contestation will be decided online.
- The AfD condemned his remarks, while a prominent Tagesspiegel commentary faulted governing parties and the broader center for failing to defend or operationalize his appeal.
- The speech’s timing on November 9 underscored historical resonance, and analysts framed it as a call to action ahead of regional contests such as in Saxony‑Anhalt.