Alleged coup plans: Steinmeier sees "new level"

Created: 07/12/2022 15:31

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier stands in front of the press.

© Sebastian Kahnert/dpa

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has expressed concern about the alleged coup plans of so-called Reich citizens.

During a visit to Freiberg, Saxony, Steinmeier told the radio station MDR Aktuell on Wednesday that he did not yet know in detail what the investigators had.

It is "but a new level".

If it is confirmed that terrorist offenses are being prepared, "then action must also be taken, then criminal law must also set limits".

Freiberg - Germany is a liberal democracy.

"But this liberal democracy must also be a defensive one."

"The ability of democracy to defend itself is also demonstrated by the fact that those who have different opinions, who want a liberal, democratic, open Germany, speak out louder than is sometimes the case," stressed the Federal President, referring to the culture of discussion on social media.

Hatred and hatred can be experienced there every day: "Sometimes I wish that participants in social media would also set limits here and say: This is something that is so unbearable, I don't want to read it, let alone click it." dpa