– Press release –
Jewish association “WerteInitiative” hosts round table for the constitution anniversary:
Mazal Tov Grundgesetz!
from left to right: D. Kohn, Elio Adler, Lydia Bergida (board team of WerteInitiative e.V.), Dr Marco Buschmann, Federal Minister of Justice, Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community, Mario Czaja, Secretary General of the CDU
Berlin, 23 May 2023 – On the evening of 22 May 2023, the event “Mazal Tov Grundgesetz – felt, lived, together” organised by WerteInitiative – jüdisch-deutsche Positionen e.V. took place in the Paul-Löbe-Haus of the German Bundestag to mark the 74th anniversary of the constitution. The discussion addressed the question of how the abstract concept of “constitutional patriotism” can be filled with life and how the values of the Grundgesetz (German Basic Law) can be made positively tangible for everyone.
In her welcoming address, Lydia Bergida, board member of WerteInitiativeasked in opening: “If we as a society actually treat one another respectfully every day, according to free democratic rules, then this is our own achievement and a reason to be proud, an occasion to celebrate. The question is: how can we strengthen a good feeling towards our Basic Law and the values it contains among the population?” A further word of greeting was given by Vice-President of the Bundestag Katrin Göring-Eckardt, who together with President of the Bundestag Bärbel Bas had invited WerteInitiative to hold the event in the Bundestag. In her speech, Göring-Eckardt said: “It is necessary to recall the value and the strength of our Basic Law. Not only on days of honour, but every day. We have to respect and protect what our constitution requires of us. This appeal must not appear only in speeches, it must be lived. Every day.”
Federal Minister of Justice Dr Marco Buschmann emphasised in the discussion that the free democratic basic order is not something to be taken for granted and that our society must not confuse liberality with indifference towards the values of our constitution: “Liberal democracy can be lost. There must be no tolerance for intolerance.”
Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community, stressed that an important step towards anchoring constitutional values among the population is the strengthening of civil society and voluntary work, because “the Basic Law teaches us humanity and responsibility for our fellow human beings.” The Secretary General of the CDU, Mario Czaja placed an emphasis on the question of how we mark Constitution Day: “We need more emotion and symbolism. The Day of the Basic Law is the celebration of our constitution.” Further members of the Bundestag, members of the Berlin House of Representatives and representatives of civil society also took part in the exchange. On 23 May 2024 we will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Basic Law. On this, Elio Adler, chairman of WerteInitiative, says: “The fundamental precondition for a secure Jewish future in Germany is the free democratic basic order and a strong constitutional state that protects it. So that this is preserved for us, we must create among the population a positive emotional bond with the values that make our country and our society worth living in. Constitution Day should be a reason for joy and should accordingly be celebrated by everyone.”
