German President advocates for democracy at event for seafarers’ welfare

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier emphasized the importance of democracy in his speech at Bremen’s annual Schaffermahlzeit banquet. He acknowledged the challenges of the day, such as climate change, but warned against turning away from democracy, stating that it is the only way to meet challenges fairly and humanely. Steinmeier was the guest of honor at the banquet, which dates back to 1545 and is considered one of the oldest fraternal banquets in the world.

The event, held at Bremen’s town hall, involved a shanty choir welcoming Steinmeier to the city, along with Bremen’s mayor, Andreas Bovenschulte. The banquet is organized and paid for by the creators of the Haus Seefahrt Foundation, which was founded in 1545 to care for ageing seafarers and their spouses in the port city. During the five-hour event, around 300 participants eat traditional seafaring food and listen to speeches, with donations collected for the foundation.

Steinmeier previously attended the Schaffermahlzeit in 2016 when he was serving as foreign minister under then-chancellor Angela Merkel. The traditional rules state that each guest is only allowed to attend the banquet once, but there are exceptions for Germany’s president and for the mayor of Bremen.

Source .