1 00:00:00,247 --> 00:00:02,491 My fellow citizens, 2 00:00:02,909 --> 00:00:05,344 What a year we have behind us! 3 00:00:05,344 --> 00:00:08,190 In 2020, our world was struck by 4 00:00:08,190 --> 00:00:10,724 something completely unexpected. 5 00:00:10,724 --> 00:00:13,284 A previously unknown virus 6 00:00:13,572 --> 00:00:16,393 that has invaded our bodies and our lives. 7 00:00:16,681 --> 00:00:20,626 It hits us in the places where we are most human: 8 00:00:20,626 --> 00:00:25,380 in close contact, in hugs, conversations, celebrations. 9 00:00:25,667 --> 00:00:29,063 The virus turns normal behaviour into a risk 10 00:00:29,349 --> 00:00:32,458 – and turns previously unfamiliar protective measures into something normal. 11 00:00:33,341 --> 00:00:37,786 2020, this year of the pandemic, was a year of learning. 12 00:00:38,074 --> 00:00:40,608 In spring we had to react to a virus 13 00:00:40,895 --> 00:00:44,291 while having hardly any knowledge or information about it. 14 00:00:44,291 --> 00:00:46,275 We had to make decisions 15 00:00:46,563 --> 00:00:49,096 at a point when we could only hope 16 00:00:49,096 --> 00:00:51,369 that they would turn out to be correct. 17 00:00:52,537 --> 00:00:55,889 The coronavirus pandemic was and is a once-in-a-century 18 00:00:55,889 --> 00:01:00,147 political, social and economic challenge. 19 00:01:00,147 --> 00:01:02,681 It is a historic crisis 20 00:01:02,681 --> 00:01:07,226 that has demanded a great deal of all of us and too much of some of us. 21 00:01:07,226 --> 00:01:10,048 I know that mustering this historic effort 22 00:01:10,048 --> 00:01:12,607 has required tremendous trust and patience on your part, 23 00:01:12,868 --> 00:01:16,551 and continues to do so. 24 00:01:16,551 --> 00:01:19,947 For that I am sincerely grateful to you. 25 00:01:20,568 --> 00:01:24,224 At the end of this relentless year, we should also 26 00:01:24,224 --> 00:01:27,332 pause to catch our breath – and to mourn. 27 00:01:27,332 --> 00:01:29,893 We as a society must not forget 28 00:01:30,179 --> 00:01:33,289 how many people lost loved ones, 29 00:01:33,289 --> 00:01:36,972 and were not able to be close to them in their final hours. 30 00:01:36,972 --> 00:01:39,793 I cannot ease their pain. 31 00:01:39,793 --> 00:01:43,764 But I am thinking of them this evening. 32 00:01:44,599 --> 00:01:48,254 I can only imagine how painful it must be for those 33 00:01:48,254 --> 00:01:51,651 who are mourning for loved ones lost to coronavirus 34 00:01:51,651 --> 00:01:55,909 or are themselves struggling with the lingering effects of this illness 35 00:01:55,909 --> 00:01:58,338 to see wilful deniers 36 00:01:58,338 --> 00:02:00,583 disputing the virus’s existence. 37 00:02:00,583 --> 00:02:04,842 Conspiracy theories are not only dangerous and untrue, 38 00:02:04,842 --> 00:02:09,074 they are also cynical and cruel to those who are suffering. 39 00:02:10,044 --> 00:02:13,912 2020 was a year of worry and uncertainty. 40 00:02:13,912 --> 00:02:16,159 But it was also a year 41 00:02:16,159 --> 00:02:19,006 when so many went above and beyond themselves, 42 00:02:19,267 --> 00:02:21,540 without asking any attention for it. 43 00:02:21,540 --> 00:02:23,760 We have seen this in the doctors, 44 00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:26,319 nurses and care workers in our hospitals, 45 00:02:26,607 --> 00:02:29,141 nursing homes and other facilities. 46 00:02:29,141 --> 00:02:32,536 We have seen it in the employees of our health offices, 47 00:02:32,536 --> 00:02:34,810 who found themselves suddenly thrust into the centre 48 00:02:34,810 --> 00:02:36,794 of the battle against the virus. 49 00:02:36,794 --> 00:02:39,902 We have seen it in the dedication of our Bundeswehr, 50 00:02:40,190 --> 00:02:43,299 who are providing support in every corner and at every turn. 51 00:02:44,233 --> 00:02:46,536 Countless people have helped make it possible 52 00:02:46,825 --> 00:02:50,508 for our lives to go on despite the pandemic: 53 00:02:50,508 --> 00:02:53,329 in supermarkets and freight transport, 54 00:02:53,329 --> 00:02:56,410 at post offices, on buses and trains, 55 00:02:56,410 --> 00:02:59,544 at police stations, in schools and day-care centres, 56 00:02:59,544 --> 00:03:02,365 at churches, in editorial offices. 57 00:03:03,483 --> 00:03:05,498 I am also thankful for 58 00:03:05,786 --> 00:03:09,181 the discipline that the vast majority of people show in wearing their masks 59 00:03:09,181 --> 00:03:11,167 and maintaining social distancing. 60 00:03:11,454 --> 00:03:14,719 To me this is an expression of what makes it possible 61 00:03:14,719 --> 00:03:17,853 to live in a humane society in the first place: 62 00:03:17,853 --> 00:03:20,962 consideration for others, awareness 63 00:03:20,962 --> 00:03:23,235 of when to show restraint, 64 00:03:23,496 --> 00:03:25,480 and a sense that we are part of a larger community. 65 00:03:26,337 --> 00:03:28,791 This attitude on the part of millions of our fellow citizens 66 00:03:28,791 --> 00:03:32,762 has helped us greatly to get through the pandemic so far. 67 00:03:33,049 --> 00:03:35,871 And it will remain necessary in the new year. 68 00:03:36,728 --> 00:03:38,613 But I feel hope, and 69 00:03:38,613 --> 00:03:42,008 in recent days this hope has been reflected in the faces 70 00:03:42,008 --> 00:03:45,117 of the first people to be vaccinated: 71 00:03:45,117 --> 00:03:47,964 the oldest among us and those who care for them, 72 00:03:47,964 --> 00:03:51,361 and the medical staff of intensive care units 73 00:03:51,361 --> 00:03:52,771 – not only here in Germany, 74 00:03:52,771 --> 00:03:56,454 but throughout Europe and around the world. 75 00:03:56,742 --> 00:03:58,988 Their numbers are growing daily. 76 00:03:59,275 --> 00:04:02,958 Step by step, other age groups and professions will join them, 77 00:04:02,958 --> 00:04:05,492 until finally the vaccine is available to all who want it. 78 00:04:05,787 --> 00:04:09,077 I too will be vaccinated when my turn comes. 79 00:04:10,308 --> 00:04:13,890 Another thing that gives me hope are scientists – around the world, 80 00:04:13,890 --> 00:04:16,450 but especially here in Germany. 81 00:04:16,450 --> 00:04:20,132 The first reliable coronavirus test was developed here, 82 00:04:20,132 --> 00:04:21,829 and so too was the first vaccine to be approved in Europe 83 00:04:22,091 --> 00:04:24,937 and many other parts of the world. 84 00:04:24,937 --> 00:04:27,077 It came out of the research 85 00:04:27,077 --> 00:04:30,187 of a German company, and is now 86 00:04:30,474 --> 00:04:33,870 being produced as a German-American collaboration. 87 00:04:34,883 --> 00:04:37,724 Uğur Sahin and Özlem Türeci from Mainz, 88 00:04:37,724 --> 00:04:39,368 the founders, told me 89 00:04:39,368 --> 00:04:43,664 that people from 60 countries are working for their company. 90 00:04:44,233 --> 00:04:45,912 I can think of no better example of 91 00:04:45,912 --> 00:04:49,594 how European and international cooperation, 92 00:04:49,882 --> 00:04:54,140 the strength of diversity, is what brings progress. 93 00:04:54,709 --> 00:04:59,416 The tasks that the pandemic has placed before us remain formidable. 94 00:04:59,416 --> 00:05:02,237 Many business owners, employees, 95 00:05:02,237 --> 00:05:04,509 freelancers and artists 96 00:05:04,509 --> 00:05:07,905 fear for their livelihoods. 97 00:05:08,167 --> 00:05:09,603 In this emergency situation, which is no fault of their own, 98 00:05:09,603 --> 00:05:13,548 the Federal Government has not abandoned them. 99 00:05:13,548 --> 00:05:17,518 Government support on an unprecedented scale is helping them. 100 00:05:17,806 --> 00:05:20,627 Improved rules for short-time work are taking effect. 101 00:05:20,627 --> 00:05:23,475 These measures can protect jobs. 102 00:05:24,306 --> 00:05:27,339 So will everything be about coronavirus in the new year? 103 00:05:27,339 --> 00:05:30,448 No, and it wasn’t this year either. 104 00:05:30,448 --> 00:05:33,844 Even before the pandemic, the world 105 00:05:33,844 --> 00:05:36,666 we live in was changing rapidly and fundamentally. 106 00:05:36,953 --> 00:05:40,923 This makes it all the more important for Germany to devote all of 107 00:05:40,923 --> 00:05:45,442 its energy and creativity to developing bold ideas for the future. 108 00:05:45,442 --> 00:05:48,552 For our economy, our mobility 109 00:05:48,552 --> 00:05:50,824 and our lives to become climate-friendly. 110 00:05:50,824 --> 00:05:52,521 For all people in Germany 111 00:05:52,521 --> 00:05:54,508 to benefit from equivalent living conditions 112 00:05:54,795 --> 00:05:57,903 and genuine fairness in educational opportunities. 113 00:05:58,660 --> 00:06:01,299 For us, as Europeans, to better hold our own 114 00:06:01,587 --> 00:06:04,696 in a globalised, digital world. 115 00:06:05,926 --> 00:06:08,096 My fellow citizens, 116 00:06:08,096 --> 00:06:12,067 There is no way around the fact that 117 00:06:12,354 --> 00:06:14,627 these are difficult days and weeks for our country. 118 00:06:14,627 --> 00:06:18,024 And this will remain so for quite a while. 119 00:06:18,024 --> 00:06:21,420 For some time to come, it will be up to all of us, 120 00:06:21,681 --> 00:06:23,379 to determine how we get through this pandemic. 121 00:06:23,665 --> 00:06:26,774 This is a hard winter, and it is far from over. 122 00:06:26,774 --> 00:06:30,170 We know how we can combat the virus. 123 00:06:30,170 --> 00:06:32,731 Besides the vaccine, the most effective tool 124 00:06:33,018 --> 00:06:34,429 lies in our own hands: 125 00:06:34,429 --> 00:06:38,112 it is for every one of us to follow the rules. 126 00:06:38,112 --> 00:06:40,357 All of us together. 127 00:06:41,736 --> 00:06:45,189 Finally, I would like to say something personal. 128 00:06:45,475 --> 00:06:47,723 There will be federal general elections in nine months, 129 00:06:48,010 --> 00:06:50,283 and I will not be running for re-election. 130 00:06:50,570 --> 00:06:54,252 Today I am likely speaking to you on New Year’s 131 00:06:54,515 --> 00:06:56,212 as Federal Chancellor 132 00:06:56,499 --> 00:06:59,609 for the last time. 133 00:06:59,609 --> 00:07:02,455 I don’t think I am exaggerating when I say that 134 00:07:02,455 --> 00:07:06,006 never in the past 15 years have we all 135 00:07:06,006 --> 00:07:08,534 experienced such a difficult year 136 00:07:09,226 --> 00:07:11,469 – and never have we greeted the new year 137 00:07:11,469 --> 00:07:13,741 with so much hope, despite all of 138 00:07:13,741 --> 00:07:16,269 our concerns and some scepticism. 139 00:07:17,105 --> 00:07:18,128 And so you and your families 140 00:07:18,128 --> 00:07:20,975 have my very best wishes for good health, 141 00:07:20,975 --> 00:07:26,302 confidence and blessings in the New Year 2021.