Speech at the Youth Freedom Conference on 16 June 2025

Dear Mr Clemens, Minister of State

Dear teachers

Honoured guests,

Dear pupils,

You, dear pupils, have grown up in a democracy. What seems self-evident to you is not. 72 years ago, on 17 June 1953, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets for their idea of a better country. Literally standing up for your opinion required courage in a state in which freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and freedom of the press were not provided for. The people who demonstrated back then paid dearly, very dearly for their courage - with their freedom.

We are in the infamous Kaßberg prison. This place played an important role in the events of the uprising of 17 June 1953.

I myself grew up in the GDR, but fortunately I was still too young for this place to become part of my personal history.

I thought about what I could tell you beforehand. You know the historical facts. You can hear and experience moving eyewitness accounts today.

So what do you tell young people about freedom when freedom seems to have become such a matter of course in your life? So taken for granted that some things are not even seen as an expression of freedom.

I tried to imagine what my life would be like now if there had been no 17 June 1953 and therefore no autumn '89.

My youngest daughter would have celebrated her youth consecration this year. Not voluntarily, but to avoid being ostracised.

My son, who has just graduated from high school, would have had to spend three years in the army just to be able to study for his dream degree, and even that would have been questionable given the many relatives in the West that his parents and grandparents have.

My eldest daughter, who is interested in fashion and was in Argentina this year, would never have been able to go on this trip with me.

My own studies in England would not have been possible, my involvement in the SPD would have forced me to collaborate with the KPD, would have led me to prison or internal emigration.

It wouldn't have been cool to demonstrate against environmental pollution, it would have been dangerous.

The Chemnitz river wouldn't have any salmon, but a lot of chemicals.

There would also be acts of violence, but they wouldn't be in the newspapers.

Access to TikTok videos would be severely restricted and would be directed and controlled by the GDR press office.

A spontaneous Kraftklub concert in front of the theatre would have been broken up by the People's Police before the first chord and the band would have been arrested.

That's why I'm grateful today to everyone who rebelled in the GDR back then. Because these people were instrumental in bringing down the inhumane system of repression and persecution and ensuring that we no longer have to lead such a life.

[Salutation],

But life in a democracy is exhausting. We are responsible for everything ourselves. That's exhausting. And then there are the many compromises that arise when one party does not govern alone!

That sometimes makes it difficult to like our current system. And yet it is, even if it demands more from us. Our democracy is not perfect - but it is the best we have. It thrives on the fact that power is granted for a limited period of time, that governments can be replaced by free elections. It thrives on the fact that different opinions are not only allowed, but also tolerated - even when they are difficult to bear.


Democracy also means that politics and business interact, but decisions are not made by oligarchs or tech billionaires. Our system is not based on buying influence, but on the persuasive power of arguments and the active participation of citizens. It is up to all of us to keep this system alive. By talking to friends, neighbours and colleagues - and by constantly reminding ourselves: We cannot take what we have for granted.

Democracy needs commitment: it needs people who take a stand, who get involved, who don't sit quietly in the corner when something needs to be done. After all, issues such as social cohesion, solidarity and social coexistence cannot be summarised in a profit and loss account. They are created through responsibility, respect and the daily actions of each individual.


I would like to thank everyone who is committed to our democratic community - openly, courageously and with a clear compass. Thank you to the organising team for this conference. I wish you all a successful event.

(The spoken word prevails)