80 Years of the Second Republic: State Ceremony in Vienna's Hofburg
Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen, during the state ceremony marking the anniversary of the re-establishment of the Republic of Austria at the Vienna Hofburg, honored not only the organized resistance during the Nazi dictatorship but also the "spirit of compromise" between previously hostile political groups.
State Ceremony for 80 Years of the Second Republic: Van der Bellen Evokes "Spirit of Lagerstraße"
"The pulse of our homeland beat again," said the Federal President about April 27, 1945, when Austria declared its independence. But even during the Nazi dictatorship, there were people "in whose hearts the belief in freedom, independence, and democracy lived on." Van der Bellen mentioned, among others, the resistance group O5 and individuals such as the Social Democrat Antonia Bruha and the priest Heinrich Maier.
The Federal President also evoked the "spirit of Lagerstraße," meaning the reconciliation and cooperation between "formerly bitter political opponents," such as Social Democrats, Christian Socialists, and Communists, who had come together in the Nazi concentration camps - "the beautiful, sometimes discredited, good old compromise, finding a common solution, carried by mutual respect." Only joint action and mutual respect kept democracy and freedom alive.
Van der Bellen saw this as a lesson for today: "Even in our times, it is important to stand up for what is right with actions. To move beyond mere commentary. Even if there may not necessarily be great chances of success." This "Austrian way" of compromise has ultimately brought prosperity and long-lasting peace. This, along with European integration, makes the Federal President optimistic "that we will succeed in overcoming the current challenges as well."
Babler Also Commends Unity at State Ceremony in Vienna's Hofburg
"The establishment of the Republic and the reconstruction of Austria after the horrors of the Nazi terror regime would not have been possible without a nationwide unity and the great commitment of the population," said Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler (SPÖ) already on Saturday. A strong rule of law, human rights, respect for institutions, and a solidarity-based coexistence must be strengthened anew every day. "We oppose hate and extremism and stand for an open, just, and diverse society," Babler stated.
FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl used the anniversary for criticism. The Declaration of Independence, the State Treaty, and the Neutrality Act were the foundation for the prosperity of the following decades. However, this foundation has been "abandoned by the wrong political actions" of the rulers of past years, Kickl stated in a release on Sunday. "Especially in times when our sovereignty is threatened by the centralist ambitions of the EU and other supranational organizations, when neutrality is undermined by blind partisanship for a warring party and a military alliance, thus sidelining its security and peace-building character, when our hard-earned prosperity is gradually being destroyed and politicians place the interests of others above those of their own people, it is of particular importance to counteract and protect Austria from all these encroachments."
For Green Party leader Werner Kogler, the anniversary is a reminder of how precious democracy, peace, and the rule of law are. "None of this was given to us. It was fought for - and all of it remains vulnerable," Kogler reminded in a release. Democracy is not a state that one achieves once and that exists forever as a matter of course. "It is a promise that we must renew every day - through our actions, our compassion, and our dissent when necessary."
After the speech by Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen, historian Christopher Clark delivered the keynote address, and representatives of the federal government were also invited. The program concluded with a moderated conversation between a student and a contemporary witness.
(APA/Red)
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