The German chancellor is using his New Year’s speech to urge German citizens to remain confident in the future as they adapt to a world of rapid change and multiple crises.
“So much suffering, so much blood has been shed. Our world has become a more unstable and harsh place. It is changing almost at the speed with which we breathe,” Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a pre-recorded speech to be broadcast today. the last day of the year, quoted by the Associated Press.
Scholz was referring to Russia’s war in Ukraine, the resulting rise in energy prices, the suffering from the Covid-19 pandemic and the Hamas attack that triggered Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip.
“As a result, we are forced to change too,” he said.
“This worries many of us. Some people are also dissatisfied with this. I take this seriously. But I also know one thing: we in Germany will overcome this,” he added.
The chancellor stressed that despite widespread concerns a year ago, Germans were not left without heat last winter after Russia cut off most of Europe’s natural gas supplies.
“Everything turned out differently. Inflation has fallen. Salaries and pensions are rising. Our fuel tanks are full for the winter,” he said, expressing confidence in the policies of his government coalition.
The German leader, led by Scholz, has been marred by internal strife during his two years in power, lost popularity and fallen in the polls. The German economy also cooled, but the chancellor still tried to paint a positive picture for next year.
Scholz cited tax cuts for many families and the government’s plans to invest in transport infrastructure and clean energy.
“Who will do this if not you in Germany?” “This is what I hear from many people around us in Europe and the rest of the world,” the chancellor said, adding that there are more men and women working in the country today than at any time in the past.
The German executive leader also stressed the importance of the European Union (EU), especially in times of crisis.
“Our strength is in the EU. When the EU speaks with one voice, it speaks on behalf of more than 400 million people. In a world of eight billion people, soon to be 10 billion, this is a real asset,” he said. .
The chancellor also stressed that Germany needs everyone’s commitment to move the country forward: “from leading scientist to care worker, from police officer to courier, from pensioner to trainee.”
“If we put this in our heads, if we treat each other in this spirit of respect, then we will not have to fear the future,” Scholz said, adding that “then 2024 will be a good year” for Germany, “even if some things will turn out to be different than you imagine today, on New Year’s Eve.”