After 16 years in the Chancellery, Angela Merkel is saying goodbye to politics bit by bit.
Now there is another last-time appointment with a bit of retrospect.
Berlin - In her 16-year term in office, Chancellor Angela Merkel only had to cope with crises that did not originate in Germany.
The CDU politician includes the financial crisis of 2007, the euro rescue, the so-called refugee crisis of 2015, climate change and the corona pandemic.
"What has always run through my term of office is that we cannot overcome our challenges with national politics alone, but that we are part of a world, and that is also the topic that we see in climate," said Merkel on Thursday in Berlin.
“We alone will not be able to change the world climate.
We will not be able to fight the pandemic alone, ”said Merkel.
She added, "But the way we do it can set an example for others to follow."
Merkel calls on the population to vaccinate
In view of the rising corona numbers, Merkel urged more vaccinations at what is expected to be the last summer press conference in Berlin.
"The more we are vaccinated, the freer we will be again," said the Chancellor.
The pandemic can only be overcome together.
That is why people should also actively promote vaccinations in their private and working environment.
Merkel described the currently registered doubling of the incidence figures within 12 days as dramatic.
She warned to pay more attention to protective measures: masks, distance, ventilation and regular testing.
Higher vaccination rates meanwhile made it possible to deal with higher numbers of infections.
"Preventing the overloading of the health system remains the guideline for our actions," said Merkel.
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) had given the seven-day incidence on Thursday morning as 12.2.
The previous day the value was 11.4, at the latest low on July 6th it was 4.9.
At the same time, the Chancellor swore the country to a joint effort to cope with the storm disaster in western Germany.
"We will need patience to repair all of this damage," said Merkel.
There was terrible devastation from the floods, Germany mourned 170 deaths.
The aim is to jointly finance the flood damage, said Merkel.
The federal government has made an amount of 200 million euros available for emergency aid.
Over the next few days and weeks, the Prime Ministers of the federal states will be talking about how a joint development fund will be organized.
It is also not ruled out that the pandemic will be a topic again at this meeting, said the Chancellor.
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Chancellor Angela Merkel is saying goodbye to politics bit by bit.
© Kay Nietfeld / dpa
Merkel will no longer run in the federal election in September and will then withdraw from politics.
dpa