The corona pandemic also shapes the New Year's address by Angela Merkel (CDU): compassion for those who mourn, rejection of conspiracy theories, thanks to the citizens - and hope for 2021.
"I think I'm not exaggerating when I say: never in the last 15 years have we all found the old year so difficult," said
Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU)
*
in her
New Year
's
address
, which was broadcast on
New Year's Eve
at 20.10 on
ARD * is
broadcast.
Parts of her speech have already been published.
Accordingly, the
coronavirus pandemic * is the
central topic of your address.
But her speech also sounds conciliatory when she says: "And despite all the worries and some skepticism, we have never looked forward to the New Year with so much hope."
"2020 was also a year in which so many rose above themselves," says
Merkel.
She is primarily addressing those who have shaped life in the pandemic in particular: Doctors and nurses in
hospitals
,
nursing homes
and other facilities and the
employees of the health authorities
- but also praises “the enthusiasm of our armed forces”.
In addition, she would like to thank many other professional groups: “Countless people have contributed to making our lives possible despite the pandemic: in supermarkets and in goods transport, in post offices, on buses and trains, at police stations, in schools and daycare centers , in the churches, in the editorial offices ”.
Merkel (CDU) at the New Year's address: Conspiracy theories are cynical and cruel
"At the end of this breathless year it is also important to pause for a moment - and mourn," says
Merkel *
in very personal words.
“As a society, we must not forget how many have lost a loved one without being able to be close to them in the last few hours.
I cannot relieve their pain.
But I think of her, especially tonight. ”
And then she comes up with conspiracy theories that are circulating among the population.
They are "in view of the losses, the grief and the after-effects of the disease not only untrue and dangerous, they are also cynical and cruel towards these people," warned the
CDU politician *.
However, she also emphasizes coexistence during the pandemic and that so many have shown themselves to be disciplined: "Consideration for others, the insight to take back oneself once in a while, the awareness of common sense" would shape life in a "philanthropic society" .
Angela Merkel's New Years Address: The CDU Chancellor looks to the year 2021 with hope
It should
have been
Merkel's
last
New Year's address *
, because 2021 will also be the year of the
general election
- but a small insert in her speech makes one sit up and take notice *.
On the net, the reactions to her
New Year's Eve
speech are divided.
Merkel critics meet people who are thoughtful about the speech and who are concerned about a time without Merkel:
Lord, we will mourn this woman so much afterwards ... #Merkel
- katertura (@ katertura77) December 31, 2020
"Many
tradespeople
,
employees
,
self-employed individuals
and
artists are
insecure, even fearful of their existence," says Merkel, referring to those particularly affected by the measures against Corona.
Even if a
vaccine
*
has
now been
found, the tasks for
2021
remain
“enormous”.
In return, she finally wishes everyone “health, confidence and God's blessings for the new year.” (Dpa / kat)
* Merkur.de and tz.de are part of the Germany-wide Ippen digital editorial network.