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German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Friday called for the country’s democracy and rule of law be protected from those “who scorn and trample all over them,” ahead of Sunday’s state election that can bring the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) to power.<\/p>\n
“Ethnic-based thinking and nationalist isolationism are simply not the answer to the challenges of the 21st century,” Steinmeier told a community festival attended by 2,000 volunteers at his secondary residence in Bonn.<\/p>\n
Steinmeier, who steps down from office in March after ten years, described liberal democracy as an “achievement” and “a blessing for us all.”<\/p>\n
It helps to realize that those who wish to protect and preserve democracy represent the majority, said Steinmeier.<\/p>\n
The comments came two days before the AfD is expected to win enough votes in the election in the eastern federal state of Saxony-Anhalt to take control there.<\/p>\n
Founded in 2013, the rapidly ascendant party embraces a hard Euro-sceptic, anti-immigration platform steeped in far-right rhetoric, and is defiant of frequent calls for it to be banned from German political life as being outright extremist.<\/p>\n
Anger and outrage offer no way forward, continued Steinmeier, who made no mention of the party or election in his comments. “You cannot build a future on hatred and incitement.”<\/p>\n
Addressing the volunteers gathered at the historic Villa Hammerschmidt, the 70-year-old president said: “We need people like you right now, and you all need the support of the many in our country – the large, often too silent majority.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n