Berlin’s Governing Mayor Kai Wegner has stressed, with a view to Sunday’s state election results, that in his view Berlin is an international city – and not a place for hate, agitation and exclusion. “Berlin is the city of freedom, Berlin is the city of diversity, Berlin is the city of democracy, of respect,” said Wegner (CDU) at the Senate’s courtyard party. “We don’t need division. We need unity – and I’m saying that especially after last Sunday.”
Berlin is the only international metropolis in Germany – Munich, Frankfurt and Hamburg cannot compete. “Internationality is our strength and we need to emphasize it much more,” said Wegner. But there is no room for international conflicts on the streets of Berlin. There was also a little dig at Bavaria’s CSU Prime Minister Markus Söder: “We have a lot of things that he has no idea about.”
Holocaust survivor Friedländer visits
For the CDU politician, it was the second court party as head of the black-red Senate. Around 4,000 guests were registered. In addition to the senators and former office holders, other celebrities were expected – including Federal Minister of Labor Hubertus Heil (SPD), Bundestag Vice President Katrin Göring-Eckardt (Greens), entertainer Frank Zander and his son Marcus, actress Fritzi Haberlandt, rapper Romano and Florian Unruh, silver medalist in archery at the 2024 Olympics.
Wegner particularly welcomed the Holocaust survivor Margot Friedländer (102). “Margot Friedländer has written something in our family tree and we should all live by it: Let us simply be human,” said the governor about the honorary citizen of Berlin.
© dpa/Jörg Carstensen
The courtyard festivals take place every year; according to Wegner, this year was the 22nd edition. They are one of the regular social highlights in Berlin and are considered a place to get to know people and exchange ideas.
What is the farm festival’s stance on cannabis?
Numerous companies, associations and initiatives are also involved in various forms. On the menu were next to currywurst and meatloaf also fine dishes such as veal fillet, beetroot tartare and char. For the first time, a kebab stand was set up. But for the drug, which has recently been legal with restrictions, the Senate says the farm festival is a “cannabis-free zone”. (dpa, as)
