“There is the other, better Germany – liberal, democratic, constitutional,” Chancellor Olaf Solz said at an event marking the 80th anniversary of the assassination attempt on Adolf Hitler. The chancellor called for respect for the Constitution and the rule of law and protection of democracy.

Mr. Soltz reminded, among other things, the individual responsibility of every citizen to defend democracy and the rule of law. “The Constitution is practiced every day by millions of citizens in Germany,” he said, adding that since July 20, 1944, and the German resistance, a lesson has been learned that no one needs to abandon history.

“Our democracy depends on our tireless efforts, on the commitment of each one of us”, Mr. Soltz continued and underlined the importance of “active citizen participation” in it on the one hand and the coexistence of citizens with mutual respect on the other. The chancellor reserved special mention for Germany’s police, firefighters, rescuers and soldiers.

Democracy depends on “resisting every kind of hatred and extremism”, the chancellor said and, with an eye on today’s anniversary, noted that “those who fight our democracy will always meet our determined resistance. The men and women of the resistance in Germany were not wrong: There is an alternative to the Nazi dictatorship. There is the other, the better Germany – liberal, democratic, constitutional.’

In the same vein, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also called for the defense of democracy. “Let us not leave the field to the noisy despisers of democracy, but let us protect our democracy,” he declared, adding that this is the best memorial that can be dedicated to the officers of July 20, 1944 and all others who resisted National Socialism ».