In a recent interview with “RTL Aktuell”, the Green Party’s chancellor candidate, Robert Habeck, emphasized the central theme of the upcoming election as the defense of liberal constitutional statehood. While the economic upswing, investments in digitalization, and the fight against climate change are undoubtedly important, Habeck believes that the protection and preservation of a liberal constitutional state in Germany is the key issue that everything else is measured against.
“This is a fight uphill” Habeck said, cautioning that the developments in Austria should serve as a warning, and that even in France, things could “go awry”. He also expressed concerns about the impact of the U.S. presidency, stating that “Donald Trump is a challenging president for Germany”. Habeck’s remarks suggest that the threat to liberal constitutional statehood is not limited to distant lands, but is a pressing issue that affects Germany as well.