WEBVTT 00:00:15.335 --> 00:00:16.517 Gerhard Sillmann asks: 00:00:16.517 --> 00:00:20.812 Why is there no large panel of experts to help tackle COVID 19? 00:00:20.812 --> 00:00:23.626 The impression is being created that only a very few experts 00:00:23.626 --> 00:00:25.884 recommend one-sided measures, 00:00:25.884 --> 00:00:29.055 and these are then implemented by the Federal and State Governments. 00:00:29.077 --> 00:00:33.105 The Federal Government is in regular contact with experts. 00:00:33.105 --> 00:00:38.083 Our initial request for expert advice always goes to the Robert Koch Institute, 00:00:38.180 --> 00:00:41.425 because there’s a great deal of collective expertise there. 00:00:41.785 --> 00:00:45.199 We also have very regular contact 00:00:45.199 --> 00:00:47.242 with the research institutions, 00:00:47.502 --> 00:00:49.189 especially the Leopoldina, 00:00:49.500 --> 00:00:52.579 but also with the Helmholtz Institutes 00:00:52.579 --> 00:00:54.309 and university hospitals. 00:00:54.309 --> 00:00:56.610 As part of that, we also regularly ask for 00:00:56.610 --> 00:00:59.229 their personal impressions and opinions 00:00:59.489 --> 00:01:02.376 on the various aspects of the COVID 19 pandemic. 00:01:02.376 --> 00:01:05.529 In other words, there’s no fixed panel of experts. 00:01:05.529 --> 00:01:08.608 Instead, we have a regular, ongoing 00:01:08.918 --> 00:01:10.910 and intensive exchange with the experts. 00:01:11.221 --> 00:01:12.642 Chrischi Claus asks: 00:01:12.642 --> 00:01:15.476 I cannot understand the government’s logic: 00:01:15.688 --> 00:01:18.257 Most of the infections occur in the private sphere. 00:01:18.522 --> 00:01:20.880 Restaurants and pubs have adhered to the rules, 00:01:20.880 --> 00:01:23.688 are subject to strict checks, and now have to close. 00:01:23.688 --> 00:01:25.353 This makes no sense to me, unless 00:01:25.618 --> 00:01:28.764 the government wants the virus to spread. 00:01:28.764 --> 00:01:31.665 It would make more sense to ban parties at home, 00:01:31.665 --> 00:01:34.094 but keep pubs and restaurants open, 00:01:34.228 --> 00:01:37.814 and use them as venues for controlled gatherings. 00:01:38.074 --> 00:01:40.575 That would really help everyone. 00:01:40.908 --> 00:01:43.954 So, first of all, it’s not our intention 00:01:43.954 --> 00:01:46.831 to have the virus spread among the population. 00:01:47.142 --> 00:01:50.289 Rather, our goal is to have so few infections 00:01:50.601 --> 00:01:53.746 that we can always trace contacts, 00:01:53.746 --> 00:01:58.664 and thereby stop the exponential increase in infections. 00:01:58.664 --> 00:02:01.543 Unfortunately, that’s the situation right now, and it’s also the reason 00:02:01.809 --> 00:02:05.263 Why, in three-quarters of the cases, we no longer know 00:02:05.263 --> 00:02:07.567 where the infection has come from. 00:02:07.567 --> 00:02:08.718 You’re absolutely right 00:02:08.718 --> 00:02:12.442 that the private sphere is a significant factor. 00:02:12.706 --> 00:02:13.860 That’s why we’ve also 00:02:13.860 --> 00:02:16.738 imposed extensive contact restrictions here, 00:02:17.053 --> 00:02:19.867 both in public and at home: 00:02:19.867 --> 00:02:23.904 namely, that celebrations or parties are not allowed, 00:02:24.169 --> 00:02:25.899 that only two households 00:02:25.899 --> 00:02:28.514 may meet with up to a maximum 00:02:28.779 --> 00:02:30.819 of ten people. 00:02:31.083 --> 00:02:34.848 This means that even if two people who live alone meet, 00:02:34.848 --> 00:02:37.154 then the limit has already been reached. 00:02:37.418 --> 00:02:40.874 And these contact restrictions in the private sphere 00:02:40.874 --> 00:02:44.331 are a very big part of our measures. 00:02:44.331 --> 00:02:47.519 However, in the current situation, this alone is not enough. 00:02:47.784 --> 00:02:51.244 We’ve therefore decided to do even more. 00:02:51.555 --> 00:02:55.851 And since our top priority is to keep schools and nurseries open, 00:02:55.851 --> 00:03:00.459 we’ve focused on leisure activities. 00:03:00.771 --> 00:03:02.763 And this includes restaurants. 00:03:02.763 --> 00:03:05.640 I admit that there were very, very many restaurants 00:03:05.640 --> 00:03:09.674 which had and still have very good hygiene protocols. 00:03:09.674 --> 00:03:12.867 These hygiene protocols will also be required in future. 00:03:12.867 --> 00:03:16.584 But at the moment, with the very, very high infection rate, 00:03:16.584 --> 00:03:20.354 such hygiene protocols can no longer have the effect 00:03:20.616 --> 00:03:21.770 which they actually should have. 00:03:21.770 --> 00:03:24.387 So right now we have to focus on reducing contacts. 00:03:24.387 --> 00:03:26.386 And every visit to a restaurant, 00:03:26.386 --> 00:03:28.113 the theatre, 00:03:28.113 --> 00:03:31.571 or the cinema, involves using public transport. 00:03:31.836 --> 00:03:33.189 Someone moves from point A to point B, 00:03:33.499 --> 00:03:35.803 and chats a bit beforehand and afterwards. 00:03:35.803 --> 00:03:37.794 And all of this must be reduced, 00:03:37.794 --> 00:03:39.834 so we can once again reach a level 00:03:40.097 --> 00:03:42.981 where we can trace contacts. 00:03:42.981 --> 00:03:44.444 This is unpleasant and difficult. 00:03:44.705 --> 00:03:47.325 And that’s why there’s substantial compensation 00:03:47.585 --> 00:03:51.353 for those affected, who are now making sacrifices for 00:03:51.619 --> 00:03:56.229 all of us. We want to protect them economically as far as possible, 00:03:56.229 --> 00:04:00.015 and enable them to continue operating. 00:04:00.175 --> 00:04:01.343 Florian Heimann asks: 00:04:01.343 --> 00:04:03.843 When there is a vaccine, 00:04:03.843 --> 00:04:07.037 who must, should and can be vaccinated? 00:04:07.037 --> 00:04:09.448 And when will all the restrictions be lifted? 00:04:10.782 --> 00:04:12.707 We’re hopeful 00:04:12.707 --> 00:04:16.388 that pretty soon, the first vaccines will be approved. 00:04:16.779 --> 00:04:20.499 Of course there won’t be enough vaccines available at first. 00:04:20.809 --> 00:04:22.539 Above all, I would like to once again state: 00:04:22.539 --> 00:04:25.109 no one will be forced to get vaccinated. 00:04:25.420 --> 00:04:27.347 It will remain a personal decision. 00:04:27.347 --> 00:04:29.654 The question of ‘Who will be vaccinated first?’ 00:04:29.654 --> 00:04:34.573 is being discussed with the Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO), 00:04:34.573 --> 00:04:37.139 with the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina 00:04:37.139 --> 00:04:39.181 and with the Ethics Commission. 00:04:39.181 --> 00:04:40.907 But I think I can already reveal that 00:04:41.169 --> 00:04:45.204 the first to be vaccinated will naturally include nursing staff, 00:04:45.204 --> 00:04:50.011 doctors and also people who belong to a high-risk group. 00:04:50.011 --> 00:04:53.267 However, this includes many people in our country. 00:04:53.578 --> 00:04:56.730 And the preparations for the vaccinations are underway. 00:04:56.730 --> 00:04:59.919 The federal states are also now planning vaccination centres. 00:04:59.919 --> 00:05:01.070 We’ll see then 00:05:01.070 --> 00:05:03.379 how many vaccines we have available, 00:05:03.379 --> 00:05:06.264 and how long the vaccine provides immunity. 00:05:06.264 --> 00:05:09.405 And that’s the central task: 00:05:09.405 --> 00:05:12.245 we want to make the entire population 00:05:12.245 --> 00:05:15.125 immune to the virus. 00:05:15.433 --> 00:05:19.157 We know from other epidemics 00:05:19.157 --> 00:05:23.964 that if approximately 60 to 70% of the population 00:05:24.275 --> 00:05:25.691 becomes immune, whether it’s through 00:05:26.004 --> 00:05:28.574 having the disease or 00:05:28.574 --> 00:05:30.874 through vaccination, 00:05:30.874 --> 00:05:35.795 that the virus is then more or less defeated. 00:05:35.795 --> 00:05:38.366 Then we can lift all restrictions. 00:05:38.366 --> 00:05:41.246 Until then, we must continue to live with certain 00:05:41.557 --> 00:05:43.859 restrictions due to the virus. 00:05:44.575 --> 00:05:46.737 Miriam Blumberg asks: 00:05:47.005 --> 00:05:50.874 Dr Merkel, what will be done in future in the German nursing care sector 00:05:50.874 --> 00:05:53.251 to improve conditions for employees? 00:05:53.777 --> 00:05:57.735 Particularly during the COVID 19 pandemic, the situation is escalating once again. 00:05:57.875 --> 00:05:58.812 Yes, that’s true. 00:05:58.812 --> 00:06:01.628 But nurses are of course 00:06:01.628 --> 00:06:04.508 a very important pillar of our society. 00:06:04.508 --> 00:06:06.496 And that’s why, especially in recent years, irrespective 00:06:06.496 --> 00:06:12.193 of COVID 19, we have improved a great deal in nursing field, 00:06:12.454 --> 00:06:18.216 both for inpatient care, where we have around 830,000 patients, 00:06:18.216 --> 00:06:20.253 and also for the millions 00:06:20.519 --> 00:06:23.401 who are outpatients or nursed at home. 00:06:23.401 --> 00:06:26.278 How have we done this? 00:06:26.278 --> 00:06:29.734 First of all, we abolished fees for training. 00:06:29.734 --> 00:06:32.928 These were actually a relic from the past. 00:06:32.928 --> 00:06:36.960 In future, as with other professions requiring vocational training, 00:06:36.960 --> 00:06:40.988 those taking up this career will be paid. 00:06:40.988 --> 00:06:43.873 We’ve improved the training. 00:06:43.873 --> 00:06:48.167 We’ve introduced a minimum wage in nursing, 00:06:48.167 --> 00:06:50.168 and, in a joint effort, are also 00:06:50.168 --> 00:06:56.237 strongly encouraging collective bargaining in the nursing sector. 00:06:56.237 --> 00:06:59.955 The latest wage agreements in the public sector in particular 00:07:00.270 --> 00:07:03.411 have resulted in a significant increase for nursing staff. 00:07:03.411 --> 00:07:05.720 We have also now awarded a special 00:07:06.027 --> 00:07:09.171 bonus to nursing staff during the COVID 19 pandemic. 00:07:09.171 --> 00:07:12.365 So a lot is being done to upgrade this profession. 00:07:12.365 --> 00:07:14.932 This cannot be achieved in two or three years. 00:07:15.246 --> 00:07:18.127 On the contrary, it will continue for many years to come: 00:07:18.127 --> 00:07:21.845 especially the issue of time management. 00:07:22.156 --> 00:07:24.996 This concerns matters such as: when do I have a right to days off? 00:07:25.307 --> 00:07:26.720 When can I be sure that I won’t always 00:07:26.720 --> 00:07:29.025 be summoned to work again? 00:07:29.025 --> 00:07:30.178 These are very important matters. 00:07:30.178 --> 00:07:32.218 We will continue to work on them. 00:07:32.895 --> 00:07:34.504 Peter Linzmaier asks: 00:07:34.854 --> 00:07:36.948 Why do you never ask the German people 00:07:36.948 --> 00:07:38.255 before you make decisions? 00:07:38.255 --> 00:07:40.397 We ask the German people every four years. 00:07:40.397 --> 00:07:42.702 Then, the people elect a new Federal Government, 00:07:43.013 --> 00:07:45.584 which comes from a new Federal Parliament (Bundestag). 00:07:45.584 --> 00:07:48.462 And the members of the Bundestag have all stood for election, 00:07:48.772 --> 00:07:51.919 and have won the support of the majority in their constituencies. 00:07:52.227 --> 00:07:55.947 We are what you call a representative democracy. 00:07:55.947 --> 00:07:58.829 This means that the members of the Bundestag are elected every four years, 00:07:58.829 --> 00:08:04.324 and they then, as it were, embody the institution 00:08:04.324 --> 00:08:07.202 which decides on the laws, 00:08:07.202 --> 00:08:12.319 and of course thereby also reflect the will of 00:08:12.587 --> 00:08:14.889 the people in their constituency, or in 00:08:14.889 --> 00:08:16.614 their federal states. 00:08:17.556 --> 00:08:21.226 I believe that this form of democracy has proven to be very effective. 00:08:21.226 --> 00:08:22.951 However, this doesn’t mean 00:08:22.951 --> 00:08:26.414 that we don’t have to get regular feedback from the public 00:08:26.678 --> 00:08:28.139 as members of the Bundestag, or me too. 00:08:28.139 --> 00:08:33.012 We are always answerable to our own constituency, the votes 00:08:33.012 --> 00:08:35.892 and the opinions of the people who live there. 00:08:36.205 --> 00:08:39.927 We travel extensively throughout the country and exchange ideas. 00:08:40.236 --> 00:08:42.544 I engage in dialogue with the public. 00:08:42.544 --> 00:08:44.269 We ask the people, and listen to 00:08:44.269 --> 00:08:47.723 what they expect of us and where they are not satisfied. 00:08:47.723 --> 00:08:51.184 These are all feedback mechanisms which are permanently in place. 00:08:51.447 --> 00:08:54.637 But the real decision of the public 00:08:54.900 --> 00:08:59.512 on who they would like to be responsible for policy in the coming years? 00:08:59.512 --> 00:09:01.812 This takes place through the Bundestag election, 00:09:02.127 --> 00:09:04.692 which will be held again next September. 00:09:05.975 --> 00:09:08.710 isabell.k.95 asks: 00:09:08.710 --> 00:09:12.563 I wonder why the government doesn’t do more for climate protection? 00:09:12.964 --> 00:09:14.310 There are so many ways 00:09:14.310 --> 00:09:17.872 to achieve and implement the protection goals. 00:09:17.872 --> 00:09:20.559 But in Germany, forests are still being cleared, 00:09:20.585 --> 00:09:22.944 and for example, mass animal farming is still allowed, 00:09:22.944 --> 00:09:25.541 or animal products subsidised. 00:09:25.858 --> 00:09:29.266 Why don’t politicians work together with climate researchers? 00:09:29.266 --> 00:09:34.287 And what are your plans to save the future of the earth and of humankind? 00:09:34.738 --> 00:09:38.800 I believe that the Federal Government has adopted 00:09:39.063 --> 00:09:41.779 a number of measures for climate protection. 00:09:41.779 --> 00:09:44.034 We’ve set ourselves very ambitious goals. 00:09:44.034 --> 00:09:46.604 We want to reduce 00:09:46.604 --> 00:09:50.450 CO2 emissions by 55% by 2030, and 00:09:50.713 --> 00:09:54.165 be climate neutral by 2050. 00:09:54.479 --> 00:09:57.966 This goal is shared by the whole of the European Union. 00:09:58.012 --> 00:10:01.153 And for this, we must of course undertake considerable efforts. 00:10:01.153 --> 00:10:06.073 One example is the further expansion of renewable energies. 00:10:06.073 --> 00:10:08.336 Here, we can say today 00:10:08.336 --> 00:10:10.577 that renewable energies are the largest pillar 00:10:10.836 --> 00:10:12.565 of our electricity supply. 00:10:12.565 --> 00:10:14.608 To keep electricity affordable, 00:10:14.608 --> 00:10:17.756 we have capped the EEG surcharge 00:10:17.756 --> 00:10:20.636 for the coming years, so that prices don’t increase. 00:10:20.948 --> 00:10:24.982 We have introduced numerous initiatives 00:10:24.982 --> 00:10:28.436 to make progress in the area of building renovations. 00:10:28.436 --> 00:10:30.429 We’re funding e mobility 00:10:30.429 --> 00:10:33.622 with the aim of becoming better in the area of transport where 00:10:33.622 --> 00:10:36.768 we’ve had insufficient emission reductions in recent years. 00:10:36.768 --> 00:10:41.356 And we’ve developed a hydrogen strategy, 00:10:41.356 --> 00:10:43.397 because hydrogen will be needed, 00:10:43.397 --> 00:10:45.388 specifically green hydrogen, in the future 00:10:45.388 --> 00:10:47.385 to make all industrial 00:10:47.652 --> 00:10:49.376 processes CO2 free. 00:10:49.688 --> 00:10:51.416 We’re investing a very, very large amount of money 00:10:51.680 --> 00:10:56.288 in these various parts of our climate policy. 00:10:56.288 --> 00:10:59.748 And we are in intensive exchanges 00:10:59.748 --> 00:11:02.048 with climate researchers on the question 00:11:02.048 --> 00:11:04.665 as to how best achieve our goals. 00:11:04.665 --> 00:11:07.233 And it has become clear that, wherever possible, 00:11:07.233 --> 00:11:10.425 this should be done through the price of CO2. 00:11:10.425 --> 00:11:15.608 The price of CO2 will thus increase on 1 January 2021 00:11:15.608 --> 00:11:17.273 and then successively rise further. 00:11:17.273 --> 00:11:19.846 Not only in the area of industry: 00:11:19.846 --> 00:11:22.994 they’ve had the certificate system for a very long time already, 00:11:23.258 --> 00:11:27.290 but now also in the areas of transport and heating. 00:11:27.602 --> 00:11:30.752 This also affects building insulation and the like. 00:11:30.752 --> 00:11:35.560 And if the price of the CO2 emitted increases, 00:11:35.560 --> 00:11:38.750 then innovative technologies will be developed 00:11:38.750 --> 00:11:42.781 which will then lead to lower CO2 emissions. 00:11:43.045 --> 00:11:44.778 And this is precisely the best mechanism, 00:11:44.778 --> 00:11:47.346 both technically and economically, 00:11:47.346 --> 00:11:51.381 to achieve the goals we’ve set ourselves. 00:11:51.381 --> 00:11:53.377 We will also set more ambitious goals 00:11:53.377 --> 00:11:56.257 at European level once again. 00:11:56.257 --> 00:12:01.130 And then at the Climate Change Conference at the end of the year in Glasgow 00:12:01.130 --> 00:12:03.750 - it will take place as a video conference - 00:12:03.750 --> 00:12:08.290 hopefully the European Union will be able to 00:12:08.290 --> 00:12:11.438 announce our new improved goals for 2030. 00:12:11.438 --> 00:12:13.459 Because what Europe has 00:12:13.459 --> 00:12:15.498 decided so far, is not enough. 00:12:15.763 --> 00:12:18.338 But the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen 00:12:18.338 --> 00:12:19.803 has put forward a proposal here, 00:12:20.066 --> 00:12:22.367 and we would like to use Germany's Presidency of the Council of the EU 00:12:22.682 --> 00:12:25.247 to get the whole of Europe to commit to this goal. 00:12:25.247 --> 00:12:26.719 Moshe Wassermann asks: 00:12:26.911 --> 00:12:29.918 Why is the CO2 carbon tax being increased 00:12:29.918 --> 00:12:34.596 from 1 January 2021 despite the difficult economic situation? 00:12:34.876 --> 00:12:37.734 Many people have lower incomes due to the pandemic, 00:12:37.734 --> 00:12:40.142 but don’t want to freeze. 00:12:40.143 --> 00:12:42.709 The policy-makers should defer the tax 00:12:42.709 --> 00:12:44.775 until the pandemic is over. 00:12:44.946 --> 00:12:49.559 Yes, we must of course consider the special situation 00:12:49.559 --> 00:12:50.975 people face. And I know that 00:12:50.975 --> 00:12:55.585 through short-time work and worries about job security due to COVID 19, 00:12:55.897 --> 00:12:59.378 many people are concerned about the future. 00:12:59.384 --> 00:13:02.799 But nevertheless we cannot just 00:13:03.063 --> 00:13:05.975 simply postpose important long-term tasks. 00:13:05.975 --> 00:13:08.546 Because we’ve seen during the pandemic that 00:13:08.546 --> 00:13:12.000 we have to act decisively to counter the changes. 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:16.019 And climate change is real, so we can’t afford any delay 00:13:16.019 --> 00:13:19.674 in dealing with reducing CO2 emissions. 00:13:19.674 --> 00:13:21.713 We must therefore continue along this path. 00:13:21.713 --> 00:13:25.769 But we’ve now frozen the surcharge, 00:13:26.079 --> 00:13:31.841 the renewable energy surcharge, during the current pandemic. 00:13:31.841 --> 00:13:32.789 This is a very important point. 00:13:32.789 --> 00:13:36.134 Otherwise it would have risen, and thus also the price of electricity. 00:13:36.134 --> 00:13:39.862 But with the CO2 price, we want to send a message 00:13:39.862 --> 00:13:42.459 - when people purchase something new 00:13:42.459 --> 00:13:45.339 or when they consider their behaviour - 00:13:45.339 --> 00:13:47.955 and encourage them 00:13:47.955 --> 00:13:51.099 to reduce the emission of CO2 as much as possible. 00:13:51.408 --> 00:13:54.271 And if you think about it, there are often alternatives 00:13:54.271 --> 00:13:57.729 to achieve the same goal in a different way. 00:13:57.729 --> 00:14:00.328 And this should be encouraged by 00:14:00.641 --> 00:14:03.211 our measures on the pricing of CO2. 00:14:03.211 --> 00:14:06.385 Despite the challenges of COVID 19, 00:14:06.650 --> 00:14:08.956 we can’t stop this process now. 00:14:09.495 --> 00:14:11.835 Selina Ermoneit asks: 00:14:11.835 --> 00:14:15.636 On the subject of the Internet: at CeBIT 2016 they spoke about 00:14:15.636 --> 00:14:18.710 expanding the network in Germany as quickly as possible 00:14:18.710 --> 00:14:21.395 so that our industry remains competitive. 00:14:21.395 --> 00:14:24.295 What is planned for the near future here? 00:14:24.295 --> 00:14:26.847 What we want, of course, is to provide broadband speeds 00:14:26.847 --> 00:14:31.078 of over 50 megabytes per second for every household. 00:14:31.135 --> 00:14:35.435 By the end of 2015, we had connected 70% of households. 00:14:35.435 --> 00:14:40.039 By the end of 2019, this had increased to 91.9%. 00:14:40.351 --> 00:14:44.677 Our goal is to have every single household 00:14:44.994 --> 00:14:47.870 in Germany connected and to provide universal 00:14:47.870 --> 00:14:51.591 broadband coverage by 2025. 00:14:51.591 --> 00:14:54.471 A second point we are working on, of course, 00:14:54.782 --> 00:14:57.662 is the question of the availability of mobile communications. 00:14:57.662 --> 00:14:59.656 Network operators are committed to 00:14:59.656 --> 00:15:02.260 providing 99% of households with mobile communications 00:15:02.260 --> 00:15:06.289 and to improving this service 00:15:06.289 --> 00:15:08.280 by the end of the year. 00:15:08.280 --> 00:15:11.474 We will then intervene once again, 00:15:11.735 --> 00:15:14.619 also on the part of the Federal Government, in the remaining areas 00:15:14.619 --> 00:15:17.459 where coverage is not yet secured 00:15:17.725 --> 00:15:19.764 in order to make real progress here. 00:15:20.029 --> 00:15:21.177 You’re quite right. 00:15:21.494 --> 00:15:25.789 Both broadband and mobile communications are prerequisites 00:15:25.789 --> 00:15:28.978 for living in the digital age. 00:15:28.978 --> 00:15:33.928 And that’s why this is a real overriding priority of our work. 00:15:34.295 --> 00:15:36.336 Caroline Ruthardt asks: 00:15:36.795 --> 00:15:40.805 Mrs Merkel, first of all thank you very much for all your hard work to date 00:15:41.072 --> 00:15:42.535 and, above all, for how you’re currently 00:15:42.802 --> 00:15:45.100 getting us through these strange times. Thank you. 00:15:45.100 --> 00:15:48.088 My question is: What political action do you still intend to take 00:15:48.088 --> 00:15:50.011 to promote women’s equality? 00:15:50.322 --> 00:15:53.205 Quotas for women are not taken seriously by many companies. 00:15:53.466 --> 00:15:57.119 The gender pay gap is still a reality nearly everywhere, 00:15:57.119 --> 00:15:58.848 right through to the gender pension gap. 00:15:58.848 --> 00:16:02.039 There are many positive results abroad showing 00:16:02.039 --> 00:16:05.492 that clear and strict laws can be very successful. 00:16:05.492 --> 00:16:08.474 Why, unfortunately, is Germany still lagging behind in this respect? 00:16:09.173 --> 00:16:11.430 When we talk about equality between men and women 00:16:11.430 --> 00:16:13.784 we are, in principle, talking about two major issues. 00:16:13.878 --> 00:16:15.921 The first issue is the representation of women. 00:16:15.921 --> 00:16:18.226 And in this respect we are, in fact, lagging behind. 00:16:18.226 --> 00:16:19.639 But I believe we’re catching up. 00:16:19.953 --> 00:16:22.863 The Federal Government has itself taken steps to ensure that 00:16:22.863 --> 00:16:25.435 all the committees we appoint 00:16:25.435 --> 00:16:28.053 over the next few years for public sector work 00:16:28.053 --> 00:16:31.505 are made up of 50% women and 50% men. 00:16:31.770 --> 00:16:33.808 Equality must be our objective, of course. 00:16:34.075 --> 00:16:36.362 We already have quotas of 30% on the supervisory boards 00:16:36.673 --> 00:16:39.821 of large companies. 00:16:39.821 --> 00:16:41.285 That works well. 00:16:41.285 --> 00:16:42.701 Women have always been found for these positions. 00:16:43.009 --> 00:16:46.156 And now it’s the turn of small and medium-sized companies. 00:16:46.156 --> 00:16:48.773 We’re currently considering whether we should do something else, 00:16:49.034 --> 00:16:51.914 whether we can do something else in this legislative period, 00:16:52.230 --> 00:16:56.836 including in the areas of health insurance companies, pension schemes, etc. 00:16:56.836 --> 00:16:58.565 Discussions on this are ongoing. 00:16:58.565 --> 00:17:02.021 The second issue alongside representation is the question 00:17:02.285 --> 00:17:03.111 of acquisition of 00:17:03.111 --> 00:17:05.411 rights to pensions. This has 00:17:05.411 --> 00:17:08.293 a great deal to do with employment opportunities. 00:17:08.293 --> 00:17:12.326 We need to be able to improve the balance between work and family, 00:17:12.326 --> 00:17:15.783 so that mothers and fathers, or fathers and mothers, 00:17:16.093 --> 00:17:19.236 are able to better combine work and family. 00:17:19.236 --> 00:17:21.541 With this in mind, we have expanded the number of nursery places available. 00:17:21.541 --> 00:17:23.846 In this legislative period we will, I hope, 00:17:23.846 --> 00:17:25.296 adopt the legal right to 00:17:25.296 --> 00:17:28.753 childcare for children of primary school age. 00:17:28.753 --> 00:17:33.358 And in many ways we have reinforced the flexibility 00:17:33.358 --> 00:17:37.703 of parental leave, partly by increasing parental allowance, 00:17:37.703 --> 00:17:40.878 so that together fathers and mothers 00:17:40.878 --> 00:17:44.597 are better able to manage bringing up children. 00:17:44.597 --> 00:17:50.938 The third issue is the question of women in certain professions. 00:17:50.938 --> 00:17:53.818 We’ve done a great deal in the care sector 00:17:53.818 --> 00:17:55.853 to improve earning potential there. 00:17:56.121 --> 00:17:57.845 And there are still a lot of professions 00:17:57.845 --> 00:18:00.375 that are dominated by women. 00:18:00.685 --> 00:18:02.679 I am thinking of, for example, childcare workers. 00:18:02.679 --> 00:18:07.287 And there is still much to do here, too, over the next few years, 00:18:07.287 --> 00:18:11.613 especially to improve the earning prospects of these professions. 00:18:12.255 --> 00:18:13.932 namookin asks: 00:18:14.195 --> 00:18:17.255 What is everyday life like as Federal Chancellor? 00:18:17.950 --> 00:18:20.949 My everyday life as a Federal Chancellor is shaped, 00:18:21.264 --> 00:18:23.866 of course, by the scheduled meetings that I have, 00:18:24.129 --> 00:18:26.434 but also by the fact that I always have to be prepared 00:18:26.434 --> 00:18:29.623 for something completely unforeseen to happen. 00:18:29.623 --> 00:18:33.687 And this is why no one day is like another. 00:18:33.733 --> 00:18:36.232 The weeks vary a little depending on 00:18:36.232 --> 00:18:37.962 whether it’s a week in parliament. 00:18:38.274 --> 00:18:41.665 If it’s a week in which the German Bundestag is in session, 00:18:41.665 --> 00:18:44.192 then I attend parliamentary party meetings. 00:18:44.192 --> 00:18:45.882 I’m often in parliament 00:18:45.882 --> 00:18:48.451 and I also have many talks with members of parliament. 00:18:48.451 --> 00:18:51.641 In weeks when the Bundestag is not in session, 00:18:51.641 --> 00:18:56.251 I often go on trips to different parts of the country 00:18:56.251 --> 00:18:59.705 for official openings of businesses or for talks with the public. 00:18:59.966 --> 00:19:03.163 Foreign policy also takes up a large part of my time, of course. 00:19:03.163 --> 00:19:06.026 Either welcoming visitors here in Berlin 00:19:06.026 --> 00:19:07.490 or travelling abroad. 00:19:07.490 --> 00:19:10.907 Of course, none of that is happening right now. 00:19:10.907 --> 00:19:14.361 Most things are decided via video conference. 00:19:14.628 --> 00:19:17.543 We currently have a special responsibility 00:19:17.543 --> 00:19:19.565 because we hold the Presidency of the Council of the EU 00:19:19.565 --> 00:19:20.985 until the end of December. 00:19:20.985 --> 00:19:23.602 There are still many meetings to be held before then. 00:19:23.602 --> 00:19:26.166 And then, of course, I also try to have 00:19:26.481 --> 00:19:29.935 some time off - at least on one day at the weekend - 00:19:30.202 --> 00:19:31.666 to get some fresh air 00:19:31.666 --> 00:19:34.810 or perhaps read a book or watch a film. 00:19:34.810 --> 00:19:39.726 These are the things I enjoy. 00:19:39.726 --> 00:19:42.276 But I also like my work very much 00:19:42.276 --> 00:19:43.706 because it’s just so varied and 00:19:43.706 --> 00:19:45.512 no one day is like another.