East-West debate: Teuteberg criticizes identity as a political business model

Linda Teuteberg, deputy leader of Germany’s Free Democratic Party (FDP), has accused political actors of exploiting the East-West divide as a “political business model.” Speaking ahead of the 65th anniversary of the construction of the Berlin Wall, she criticized efforts to maintain a sense of separate identities between former East and West Germans, calling them a deliberate strategy to fuel political agendas. Teuteberg, a former member of parliament from Brandenburg, argued that the concept of an “East identity” was invented after German reunification in 1990. She claimed that before the division ended, East Germans largely saw themselves as part of a unified Germany and remained committed to national unity. While acknowledging that decades of separation led to differences in experiences and cultural influences, she insisted that these should not be used as justification for continued political exploitation. “Who is profiting from the actual or perceived differences today?” she asked during an interview with the German press agency dpa. “Whose political business model is the division?” The statement comes amid growing tensions over how historical divisions continue to shape contemporary politics, particularly around issues such as economic disparity and social cohesion. The FDP politician pointed to long-standing political strategies that have sought to deepen the East-West divide. She specifically named the former communist party, the Socialist Unity Party (SED), which governed East Germany under a totalitarian regime, and more recently, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). According to Teuteberg, both parties have historically used narratives of East German suffering to gain political advantage. She also addressed the issue of wealth inequality between eastern and western regions, noting that some of its roots date back to the pre-unification era. “Forty years of socialism limited opportunities for wealth creation,” she said. “This has had lasting effects, but we must not confuse cause and effect. Political extremists on both ends of the spectrum are using this for their current purposes.” Her remarks were made just days before the official commemoration of the 1961 Wall construction, a moment widely regarded as a turning point in modern German history. Teuteberg emphasized the importance of remembering the freedoms won through democratic reforms and rejecting attempts to blur the distinction between democracy and dictatorship. In addition to her criticism of political manipulation, Teuteberg called for greater dialogue between people with different views. She referenced a broader initiative by the magazine Der Spiegel to bring together individuals with opposing perspectives through one-on-one conversations. This effort aims to foster understanding in a society still grappling with the legacy of division. Political analysts suggest that Teuteberg’s comments reflect a wider debate within Germany about how best to address lingering regional disparities and the role of historical memory in shaping current political discourse. As the country continues to navigate the complexities of its past, questions remain about whether the East-West divide can ever truly be overcome, or if it will persist as a tool for political influence.