During the National Day of German Unity celebrations, Elisabeth Kaiser, the Federal Spokesperson for the East (SPD), criticized the persistent inequality between the eastern and western parts of the country, concurrently demanding that Germany elect an East German Federal President. Speaking to the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung”, Kaiser stated, “I believe the time is ripe for an East German head of state again. Why shouldn’t the next Federal President be a smart woman from East Germany?”
The October 3rd commemoration holds deep significance for her, recalling that freedom and borders being absent are not self-evident concepts. She pointed out, “For many people in the East, it was a time of profound biological changes and existential anxieties. These experiences shape EstGermans to this day,” according to the SPD politician.
However, she also acknowledged the progress made since reunification. Kaiser emphasized that “Eastern Germany today is an economic innovation region, an important science center, and a bridge to Eastern Europe. Many people from the East have managed to build modest wealth in the meantime.”
Despite these advancements, significant disparities in income and wealth still persist between East and West. Furthermore, East Germans remain insufficiently represented in leadership roles. Kaiser stressed that overcoming these differences is essential if the unity achieved can genuinely be completed.
For this reason, the SPD politician is also calling for more high-level East German talent in politics. Kaiser told the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung”: “When the leaders of the Federal Republic of Germany gather for Unity Day in Bremen on October 3rd, it is noticeable again that none of them currently come from East Germany. This quickly creates the impression that the people of the East play no role in leading our country and are merely ‘cat videos’ at the table.”
