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Van der Bellen: 'We don't belong together only when we all think the same'
🇦🇹 Austria /Culture & Society

Van der Bellen: 'We don't belong together only when we all think the same'

From Die Presse · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • - Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen emphasized the daily practice required for a liberal democracy at the Bregenz Festival opening.
  • He urged citizens to contribute to maintaining freedom, peace, and prosperity, drawing parallels with Austria's history of reinvention.
  • Van der Bellen warned against simple answers to complex questions, especially in social media, and stressed the importance of compromise and respecting minorities.

Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen opened the Bregenz Festival with a call to action, likening the daily effort required for a liberal democracy to the artistic ambition showcased by the festival. "No stage set could be grander than the lake before us," he began, praising the festival's eight-decade history of tackling ambitious projects.

No stage set could be grander than the lake before us.

— Alexander Van der BellenOpening his speech at the Bregenz Festival.

Van der Bellen, 82, reflected on Austria's past, noting that the nation has had to reinvent itself after catastrophes. He stressed that freedom, peace, and prosperity are not guaranteed and are sometimes forgotten. "We tend to forget this sometimes," he stated, pointing out that many hard-won rights are now taken for granted, including the freedom to love and to disagree respectfully.

Austria is a country that had to reinvent itself after catastrophes.

— Alexander Van der BellenReflecting on Austria's history and the effort required to maintain its present state.

He described Austria's free, liberal democracy not as an event occurring every few years on election day, but as a "daily exercise." This exercise, he explained, involves majorities deciding without humiliating minorities and compromises being seen as signs of maturity, not betrayal. "This is not always the case today," he observed, noting that the loudest voices, particularly on social media, often gain attention, tempting people to seek simple answers to complex issues.

We tend to forget this sometimes.

— Alexander Van der BellenCommenting on how hard-won freedoms and societal norms are often taken for granted.

"No great story is told by a single voice," Van der Bellen declared, advocating for building a foundation on "freedom, equality, fraternity, human dignity, the rule of law, compassion, and responsibility." He urged everyone – teachers, police officers, businesses, politicians, journalists, and parents – to contribute daily to upholding these values. He encouraged citizens to learn from the Bregenz Festival's example of striving for more than the easily achievable.

Our free, liberal democracy is not an event that takes place every few years on election day, but a daily exercise.

— Alexander Van der BellenDefining the active nature of democratic participation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Die Presse in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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