Berlin (dpa) – Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has joined the heads of state of Austria and Italy in calling for the defence of European values in the European elections in June. “We’re seeing all over the world how the fundamental values of pluralism, human rights and the rule of law – our values – are being called into question, if not openly threatened. Nothing less than the foundations of our democratic order are at stake,” wrote Steinmeier, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen and Italian President Sergio Mattarella in a guest article for the newspaper Tagesspiegel. A united Europe was unthinkable without democracy, wrote the heads of state. “By participating in the election, we are defending liberal institutions, the rule of law, our fundamental values and our shared freedom.”
The three Presidents emphasise in the article that democracy is not something that should taken for granted. “We are well aware that freedom and democracy have to be defended and strengthened, and that confrontation between excessive nationalisms leads to war.” The elections to the European Parliament are due to take place from 6 to 9 June, with elections being held in Germany on 9 June.
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