BERLIN (AP) 鈥 Chancellor Olaf Scholz called on Germany's 84 million residents to stick together despite the many global crises and wars, the country's ailing economy and a deadly Christmas market attack that shocked the nation.
鈥淪trength comes from solidarity. And we are a country that sticks together,鈥 Scholz said in his New Year鈥檚 address, which will be broadcast Tuesday night. 鈥淲e have it in our hands together: we can make 2025 a good year.鈥
He acknowledged that Germany is still reeling from attack that killed five and injured more than 200 people in the eastern city of Magdeburg when a Saudi doctor drove his car into a crowd. He was arrested on murder charges.
鈥淲e are stunned by this inhuman act. How can an insane assassin cause so much suffering?鈥 Scholz said. 鈥淎nd it is not only in Magdeburg that many are asking themselves: Where can we find the strength to carry on after such a catastrophe?鈥
He thanked all those who helped the injured and warned that attacks like the one in Magdeburg and other crises should not lead to division among Germans.
鈥淲e are not a country of opposing each other, nor of passing each other by,鈥 Scholz said. 鈥淲e are a country of togetherness. And we can draw strength from this 鈥 especially in difficult times like these. And these are difficult times, we all feel that.鈥
Ahead of a Feb. 23. general election, Scholz called on Germans to go vote and took a swipe at tech entrepreneur on people to choose the far-right Alternative for Germany party. 鈥淵ou, the citizens, decide what happens in Germany. It's not up to the owners of social media,鈥 Scholz said.
鈥淥ur economy is struggling. Life has become more expensive,鈥 he acknowledged, but at same time tried to purvey a sense of optimism. 鈥淲e are 84 million 鈥 just 1% of the world鈥檚 population! And yet we are the third largest economic power in the world. Because we are industrious.鈥
鈥淲hat鈥檚 next for Germany? Once again, my answer is: our solidarity makes us strong,鈥 the chancellor said and asked Germans to approach the new year with confidence.
