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Olaf Scholz: His first New Years address in the video

2021-12-31T17:10:31.890Z


The next New Year's address under the sign of the pandemic. Only this time it is held by Olaf Scholz. In addition to Corona, there is a second big topic in the Chancellor's appearance: climate change. The speech in full length.


Read the video transcript here

Olaf Scholz, Federal Chancellor:


“Today is the end of a year that has brought some changes with it.

One small change: Tonight, as your Federal Chancellor, I am giving you the New Years address.

The smooth, sometimes almost amicable transition from the old federal government to the new has met with great approval all over the world.

It is a good sign of the strength of our society.

The year 2021 was very challenging for all of us.

The corona pandemic with its burdens and profound restrictions is in our bones.

And nobody will forget the devastating floods in North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria and Rhineland-Palatinate anytime soon.

As bad as both were, our response also includes a thoroughly good news:

As a society, we in Germany have resolutely accepted these challenges.

After the flood we all tackled together.

Together we helped, cleaned up and started rebuilding.

And we will have to do with that for a long time.

And in the fight against the pandemic, more than 60 million people in our country have now been vaccinated - and the number is increasing every day.

Some complain these days that our society is "divided".

I would like to say here with all clarity: the opposite is true!

Our country stands together.

What I perceive everywhere is a huge solidarity, that is an overwhelming willingness to help, that is a new move closer together and undercut.

Today I would like to expressly thank everyone who works for our well-being every day.

For our health and for our safety - at home and abroad.

In hospitals, nursing stations, doctor's offices or vaccination centers, in the police stations and in the armed forces.

Thank you for what you are doing for our country, for all of us!

Of course, we also experience different opinions and assessments in our daily interaction.

Especially on the subject of Corona.

That is often exhausting.

But a strong community can withstand contradictions - if we listen to one another.

And if we have respect for one another.

One thing is clear to all of us: the pandemic is not over.

Unfortunately.

After the past 21 months, we have longed for it so much.

The big New Year's Eve party has to be canceled again this evening.

We also have to do without big fireworks.

We are doing this to stop the virus from spreading.

And not to put additional strain on our hospitals.

We are thus supporting the work of the nurses, the doctors, who will also be on duty tonight.

Dear fellow citizens - I would also like to thank you personally for making an effort to abide by the applicable rules.

One thing is clear: The next days and weeks will still be dominated by Corona.

The virus has changed.

A new variant is spreading rapidly.

You heard her name: Omicron.

Many wonder what that means for us again.

How it goes on now.

I promise you that we will respond quickly and decisively.

And I am very happy that we can rely on the advice of independent experts.

Today and in the next few weeks there are clear restrictions, also for private contacts.

Because the virus is now even easier to transmit in the new Omikron variant.

Please take these restrictions very seriously.

For your protection, for the protection of your families.

For the protection of all of us.

We know that those who have not yet been vaccinated are particularly at risk of becoming infected and suffering from the disease for a long and serious period.

I therefore appeal once again to you: get vaccinated!

I know that some people are skeptical.

Worries, vaccination could have negative consequences.

However, almost four billion people around the world are now vaccinated.

Without major side effects.

And innumerable people who have been vaccinated have become parents to healthy babies.

The benefits of vaccination are really great.

The new virus variant in particular should now be the decisive factor in getting vaccinated.

This is the way out of this pandemic.

My request: make an appointment with a vaccination center or a doctor in the next few days!

Take advantage of the opportunity to be vaccinated spontaneously and without registration!

Please do not postpone it to "soon"!

And I urge everyone who has already been vaccinated to get boosted quickly and get the third vaccination.

Then you are better protected from a severe course in the event of contagion with the virus.

Now it depends on speed.

We have to be faster than the virus!

We have had more than 30 million vaccinations in Germany since mid-November.

More than in any other country in the European Union.

It's good.

But we want to get even better.

We want to have another 30 million vaccinations by the end of January.

So that we are armed against Omikron.

Let's do everything together - but really everything - so that we can finally defeat Corona in the new year.

Dear fellow citizens,

Getting Corona under control - that is the one big task in the new year.

The other big task is to lay the foundations for our country to continue to make good progress.

The 20s will be a decade of new beginnings.

We have set ourselves ambitious goals for this: Germany should be climate neutral in less than 25 years.

To do this, we will advance the biggest restructuring of our economy in more than 100 years.

During this period we will make ourselves independent of coal, oil and gas.

And at the same time generate at least twice as much electricity as today from wind, sun and other renewable energies.

A gigantic task!

So that we can cope with them, we are making massive investments.

In new power grids, in charging stations for electric cars, in wind turbines, in rails and much more.

That creates new prosperity and good jobs.

As a modern industrial country, we will achieve our climate goals.

And our technologies are still among the best in the world.

I am confident, because we have everything that is needed for this: well-trained skilled workers, clever engineers, active craft businesses and companies.

We will be able to master the great changes of our time together and with one another.

When we stick together as a community.

Respect, recognition and good life chances for everyone are the prerequisites for this.

A decent pay is also a question of respect.

That is why we are increasing the statutory minimum wage in a large step to 12 euros in the coming year.

And that is also important to me: Everyone must be able to live properly from the fruits of their own work, even in old age.

Dear fellow citizens,

Progress for a better world - no country can achieve this goal alone.

This can only be achieved if the international community works together on it.

Starting tomorrow, Germany will take over the presidency of the group of seven economically strong democratic states - the G7 - for one year.

We will use our presidency so that this group of states becomes a pioneer.

A pioneer for climate-neutral business and a fair world.

International cooperation is important.

In a world that will soon be home to ten billion people, our voices will only be heard if we perform in a choir with many others.

That is why we continue to work on the success of the European Union.

Our goal is a sovereign, strong Europe.

A Europe that lives according to its common values ​​of peace, the rule of law and democracy.

Transatlantic cooperation is also essential for security in Europe.

With a view to Ukraine, we are currently facing new challenges.

The inviolability of borders is a valuable asset - and not negotiable.

Dear fellow citizens,

We are at the beginning of a new decade.

We are setting out into a new time.

A time that will be good if we actively shape it.

Because it makes a difference that we resolutely take our fate into our own hands!

I wish you all the best for the New Year.

Especially health.

My big wish for 2022: Let's stay together! «

Source: spiegel

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