Walter Steinmeier: New walls have gone up in Germany
Frank-Walter Steinmeier
(CNN) Germany's president Frank-Walter Steinmeier has warned of the fractures in its society -- highlighted by the electoral success of the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) -- on the nation's Day of German Unity.
 Steinmeier  spoke of walls between cities and rural areas  between rich and poor  old and young  and online and offline communities.
They are "walls of alienation  frustration or anger" and behind those walls there is "deep mistrust of democracy and its representatives "  Steinmeier  said.
Without mentioning the AfD by  name  Steinmeier  warned that Germany's progress since 1990  becoming a democratic  peaceful and strong country at the heart of Europe  could be lost if politicians and ordinary Germans do not work together to fight the party's far-right ideology and to respond to the concerns of its supporters.
 Steinmeier  addressed this issue in  his  speech Tuesday  saying many Germans from the former East no longer feel at home in their own country  and question if anyone is looking out for them.
"This desire for a home  a homeland -- we mustn't leave that to the nationalists " said  Steinmeier .
"There must never be a route back to nationalism "  he  insisted  a statement that was met with a sustained ovation.
 Steinmeier  did  however  suggest Germany should consider stricter immigration controls in what can be seen as a bid to draw AfD voters back to the mainstream parties.
Germany should give asylum to those who are eligible   he  said  but must also consider "which forms of and how much immigration we want ... and need."
"Migration should be controlled according to our requirements "  he  continued  insisting that people who come to Germany must learn the language and abide by the country's laws and values. "That cannot be up for discussion."
(CNN) Germany's president [TGT] has warned of the fractures in its society -- highlighted by the electoral success of the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) -- on the nation's Day of German Unity.
 Steinmeier  spoke of walls between cities and rural areas  between rich and poor  old and young  and online and offline communities.
They are "walls of alienation  frustration or anger" and behind those walls there is "deep mistrust of democracy and its representatives "  Steinmeier  said.
Without mentioning the AfD by  name  Steinmeier  warned that Germany's progress since 1990  becoming a democratic  peaceful and strong country at the heart of Europe  could be lost if politicians and ordinary Germans do not work together to fight the party's far-right ideology and to respond to the concerns of its supporters.
 Steinmeier  addressed this issue in  his  speech Tuesday  saying many Germans from the former East no longer feel at home in their own country  and question if anyone is looking out for them.
"This desire for a home  a homeland -- we mustn't leave that to the nationalists " said  Steinmeier .
"There must never be a route back to nationalism "  he  insisted  a statement that was met with a sustained ovation.
 Steinmeier  did  however  suggest Germany should consider stricter immigration controls in what can be seen as a bid to draw AfD voters back to the mainstream parties.
Germany should give asylum to those who are eligible   he  said  but must also consider "which forms of and how much immigration we want ... and need."
"Migration should be controlled according to our requirements "  he  continued  insisting that people who come to Germany must learn the language and abide by the country's laws and values. "That cannot be up for discussion."