Festival of Democracy in Berlin to celebrate 75 years of the Basic Law
The Basic Law has been in force for 75 years - and has applied to the whole of Germany since 1990. This will be celebrated in grand style.
Berlin (dpa) - Germany is staging a three-day Festival of Democracy in Berlin’s government district to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the country’s Basic Law. A street festival open to everyone will take place around the Federal Chancellery. At the start of the festivities, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said: “Our democracy is robust. Whoever attacks our liberal democracy today should know that this time they are dealing with a fighting democracy and fighting democrats.”
On Friday, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and many federal ministers will speak with citizens in Berlin. The event will close on Sunday with a major concert featuring German stars such as Lena Meyer-Landrut and the band Die Fantastischen Vier. The Basic Law was proclaimed by Konrad Adenauer, president of the Parliamentary Council, on 23 May 1949.