A Call for Unity Amid Growing Concerns
In a year that has seen a surge in concerns, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz delivered a New Year’s address, urging the nation to stand together in the face of adversity. “Lassen wir uns also nicht auseinanderdividieren” he implored, emphasizing the importance of national unity.
Scholz’s address came a year after he expressed optimism about the future, saying that if Germans respected each other, they had no reason to fear the future. However, the current situation is vastly different, with many citizens facing uncertainty and anxiety.
The Chancellor’s speech was preceded by a preview from the Chancellor’s office, which was picked up by various mainstream media outlets. The Berliner Zeitung predicted that it might be the last New Year’s address of the year, while the Bild-Zeitung summarized it as a call for unity in the face of division.
Scholz began by addressing the Magdeburg attack, in which a Saudi Arabian man with a criminal record killed multiple people in a deadly rampage. The Chancellor expressed his shock and asked how such an atrocity could occur. He emphasized the importance of national unity, stating that “kraft entsteht aus zusammenhalt” (strength comes from unity).
The Chancellor also touched on the spread of misinformation on social media, urging people to be cautious of false reports and to seek truth from official sources. He warned that such misinformation can be detrimental to the nation, causing division and weakening the country.
On the topic of Ukraine, Scholz reassured the nation that Germany would continue to support Ukraine, both financially and through diplomatic efforts, while also maintaining a cautious approach to avoid escalating the conflict.
Regarding the economy, the Chancellor acknowledged that life has become more expensive, but highlighted Germany’s continued success as a major economic power, with a strong workforce and a high number of employed individuals, including many from other countries.
Despite the challenges, Scholz remained optimistic, stating that the nation’s unity and resilience would help it overcome the difficulties. He appealed to the public to put aside their differences and to let the majority of reasonable and decent citizens shape the country’s future.
The address will be broadcast in full on ARD and ZDF on Tuesday evening.