Unity Day: Ex-Minister Slams East-West Divide in Stuttgart Speech!
Stuttgart – Former German Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière (CDU) has called for an end to lingering East-West mentalities in Germany. Speaking at a ceremony in Stuttgart City Hall to mark German Unity Day, de Maizière criticised both the 'superior attitude' prevalent in the West and the 'second-class citizen complex' that persists in the East.
According to a statement from the city administration, the politician, who has a family history spanning both East and West Germany, delivered a sharp and analytical address, emphasizing that both mentalities must be dismantled 'as quickly as possible'.
De Maizière highlighted ongoing disparities between East and West, particularly in wealth distribution. He noted that the average wealth of East Germans is less than 50% of their West German counterparts.
He illustrated this with inheritance tax revenues, citing figures of between €18 and €26 million for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern compared to €2.4 to €3.3 billion for Bavaria. However, he also stressed that, in general, people in the East are not worse off than those in the West.
Stuttgart Mayor Frank Nopper announced in his welcoming speech that he would propose to the city council the naming of a street, square, or avenue after former Chancellor Helmut Kohl.
De Maizière concluded by urging a greater focus on future-oriented issues such as state reform, security, and economic competitiveness. The ceremony featured musical performances by the brass band of the Stuttgart-Wangen Volunteer Fire Brigade and Indian-born tenor Frazan Adil Kotwal.
Key Takeaways:
- De Maizière calls for overcoming East-West mentalities.
- Wealth disparities between East and West remain significant.
- Stuttgart to potentially honour Helmut Kohl with a street name.
- Focus should shift to future-oriented challenges.