The mayor and the Protestant dean call for democratic cohesion and stronger dialogue
Darmstadt's Mayor Hanno Benz and the Dean of the Protestant Deanery of Darmstadt, Raimund Wirth, have issued a joint statement regarding the outcome of the state election in Saxony-Anhalt . They describe the election result as a "serious warning signal" and call for strengthening democratic institutions, social cohesion, and dialogue with people who feel politically unrepresented.
The statement was prompted by the poor performance of a party that, according to Benz and Wirth, stirs up resentment, promotes social division, and puts democratic institutions under pressure. The party in question is not named in the statement.
Appeal for the rule of law and human dignity
Benz and Wirth emphasize that the rule of law, oriented towards fundamental rights and social democracy must be strengthened at all political levels as well as within civil society.
“Democracy does not live on majorities alone. It lives on attitude and respect, on participation and on the willingness to prioritize what unites us over what divides us,” the joint statement reads.
At the same time, the mayor and dean speak out against political blame being placed on immigrants and against solutions to financial problems that come at the expense of people in need.
The city of science and the Protestant deanery also point to their cooperation within the framework of the Partnership for Democracy and the federal program "Democracy Live!". According to their own statements, they are committed to combating extremism, misanthropy, and radicalization within these programs.
More dialogue also in Darmstadt
With regard to Saxony-Anhalt, Benz and Wirth express the wish that a government "of democratic forces" could be formed and that the state would remain capable of acting.
From the election results, they also derive a task for Darmstadt. Locally, dialogue with people who feel politically unrepresented must be intensified. "Shaping democracy together begins with listening," the statement reads.
In conclusion, Benz and Wirth reaffirm their commitment to combating exclusion and promoting an open society. They cite as their foundation the first sentence of Article 1 of the Basic Law: "Human dignity is inviolable."
(DARMSTADT RED/PM)
