“Extremely fortunate to live in a unified country”
The Day of German Unity will be celebrated in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in 2024. State premier Manuela Schwesig talks about the significance of the festival.
Manuela Schwesig is the premier of the German state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. She is hosting the Day of German Unity celebrations in the state capital Schwerin from 2 to 4 October 2024.
Ms Schwesig, what does the Day of German Unity mean to you and to the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania?
It is a great honour and a great pleasure for us to host the Day of German Unity. I believe we Germans are extremely fortunate to have lived for 34 years in a unified country and in peace, freedom and democracy. We therefore have every reason to celebrate the Day of German Unity with a major citizens’ festival in our state capital Schwerin from 2 to 4 October.
What makes this year’s festivities in Schwerin special, and what key message will they be conveying?
The motto of our celebrations is “Setting sail together”. “Together” refers to the reunified Germany. “Setting sail” is an apt metaphor for a state located on the Baltic Sea coast that has many lakes. However, it is also an allusion to the challenge we are all facing. Here in the north we like to say: “No matter which way the wind is blowing, we must set the sails accordingly.” We have to make Germany as a location for business future-proof. We need to maintain social cohesion, secure pensions and ensure affordable care. And we must do more to protect the climate and the environment - not using the sledgehammer approach, but ensuring no one is left behind. All of this must happen in peace, freedom and democracy.
Each year, a different German state hosts the unity celebrations. What makes Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania special?
It’s a nice tradition that the Day of German Unity is hosted by a different state each year. This ensures that the spotlight is shone on each state in turn. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is situated in the north of Germany on the Baltic Sea coast. We have strong tourism, agriculture and food sectors, though we also play an important role in future-oriented industries such as renewable energies and healthcare. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is a child- and family-friendly state boasting wonderful nature and countryside. I invite everyone to come and discover our beautiful region.