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Stefan Kornelius, Spokesperson of the Federal Government/
Head of the Press and Information Office of the Federal Government:

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Our democracy depends on you taking part
- and having your say.

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It draws its strength
from sovereign,

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self-determining citizens.

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To this end you need information,
just like everyone else.

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Helping you get an idea
of the work, decisions,

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measures and proposed solutions carried
out by the Federal Government

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is what we are responsible for:

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the Press and Information Office
of the Federal Government.

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Our task is to explain
the government’s policies

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in a transparent,
understandable and reliable way.

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For all the people
in this country.

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This short video shows

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how we do this,
even in our digital world.

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The Press and Information Office
of the Federal Government

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Esther Uleer, Deputy Head of the Press
and Information Office of the Federal Government:

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Like the Federal Chancellery,

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the Press and Information Office
reports to the Federal Chancellor.

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Every German citizen
has the right to information.

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To fulfil this mandate of our constitution,
the Basic Law

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we have more than
500 colleagues at two locations:

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in Berlin’s government district
and in Bonn.

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We employ experts

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in communication,
opinion research,

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IT, corporate identity design,

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sign language interpreting
and legal issues.

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Our institution is as diverse
as the citizens it serves -

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and as society itself.

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Tasks

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Steffen Meyer,
First Deputy Government Spokesperson:

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We keep the media up to date
on the work of the Federal Government

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by sending out press releases

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on current events and topics.

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And we answer
journalists’ questions -

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round the clock,
by phone or email.

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We are also the point of contact
for events with the Federal Chancellor.

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Whether he is meeting
colleagues abroad

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or visiting a company.

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We make sure that the press are as close
to the event as possible

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and are kept fully informed
of the outcome.

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We are also available
to answer journalists’ questions

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at press conferences.

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Sebastian Hille:
The Federal Government is aware

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of the economically
challenging situation

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we find ourselves in.

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That is why,
ahead of the summer,

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[Federal Press Conference]

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we had already decided on measures
to revitalise the economy.

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Sebastian Hille,
Deputy Government Spokesperson:

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Three times a week
- on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays -

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we, the government spokespersons,

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come here
to the Federal Press Conference

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at the invitation
of the capital’s press.

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Stefan Kornelius: Thank you very much
and hello from me as well.

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We have
a comprehensive cabinet.

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Steffen Meyer: I don’t want 
to speculate on that either.

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As mentioned,
I would like once again

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to highlight the key points.

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And of course
we are looking very closely,

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because naturally
we want to know exactly

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what matters to people
in our country.

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Sebastian Hille:
This is one of the spaces in Berlin

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where politics and the media engage
with each other.

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This is where
the government spokespersons

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and the ministry spokespersons

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answer questions from the media,
explain cabinet decisions

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and contextualise
political decisions.

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We prepare intensively
for these issues -

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together with
the Press and Information Office

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and the Federal Chancellery.

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As usual, we then
dive into the issues

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and start by looking
at the social media situation.

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But what we don't do, of course,
is interfere with reporting,

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as is often claimed
in some circles.

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That’s because we have freedom
of the press in Germany.

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Our job is to provide facts,
not to write headlines.

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We know from our history

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that it is essential

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for the media to be able
to report freely and critically -

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independently of us,
the Federal Government.

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External communication

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We explain government action with facts,
openly and through dialogue.

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Stefan Kornelius: However,
we also want to reach you, the citizens,

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directly and give you
the opportunity

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to obtain information
from us at any time.

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That’s why we want to be visible
wherever you are.

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Especially on all the relevant
social media platforms:

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Instagram, TikTok, Facebook,
WhatsApp, X, YouTube.

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[YouTube] Giorgia Meloni:
Have a good evening.

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Thank you very much
for being here.

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Friedrich Merz: Dear Madam Prime Minister,
dear Giorgia.

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This close partnership
between Germany and France.

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[TikTok, channel name:@bundeskanzler]
We have to stop telling children

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that your life only begins
when you graduate from high school

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and is completed
when you graduate from university.

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There are people
who have a much greater

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practical aptitude
than a theoretical one.

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[Instagram, channel name: @bundesregierung]
Hello, I’m Lars Klingbeil.

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I am the Deputy Chancellor
and Federal Minister of Finance.

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Stefan Kornelius: And of course
in the traditional way at bundesregierung.de.

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Friedrich Merz: Dear Prime Minister,
dear Mette Frederiksen...

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Steffen Meyer: In daily meetings,
colleagues consider

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how to get the political messages
across in terms of language and form.

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This could be through question-and-answer videos
with the Federal Chancellor.

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[TikTok, Instagram, channel name@bundeskanzler]
Friedrich Merz: What is your hobby?

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Well, I have relatively little time
for my hobby at the moment.

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Steffen Meyer: Explanatory posts.

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Video portraits with all the ministers.

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Johann Wadephul:
I come from the north,

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where people greet you
with the word "Moin”,

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and sometimes
they also speak Low German:

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I don’t know 
if you can understand me,

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but Low German
is a beautiful language.

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Dorothee Bär:
A warm welcome.

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My name is Dorothee Bär

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and I am the Federal Minister of Research,
Technology and Space.

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Boris Pistorius: One of my most
important goals, especially in my office,

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in view of the threat
posed by Moscow,

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is to ensure that in the coming years
we optimise the Bundeswehr

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for our country,
for Germany,

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but also for NATO and our alliance.

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Spokesperson: Travel reports,
background articles or photo series.

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[facebook, channel name: @bundesregierung]:

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Friedrich Merz: We have been working intensively
on a high-tech agenda,

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on topics such as AI
and quantum computing.

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The Federal Government
has an action plan

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to accelerate the development
of fusion power.

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Sebastian Hille: Whether on social media
or a website,

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it’s all about information.

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And we want to convey this information
via modern communication channels.

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Esther Uleer: For us,
public relations means bringing correct,

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verified information directly to you,
first hand.

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Not only do we do this digitally,
but we also do it in person.

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We organise major events
such as the Celebration of Democracy

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to mark 75 years of the Basic Law,
the Day of German Unity,

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or the Federal Government Open Day.

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[Moderator]: Friedrich Merz, hello.

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Esther Uleer]: The Press and Information Office
also organises tours for visitors

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on behalf of Members
of the German Bundestag.

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This allows almost
100,000 visitors a year

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to experience Berlin and federal politics
for themselves.

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In this way,
we create opportunities

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for them to ask questions
and get answers.

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Many also turn to us
in the traditional way:

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Public Information Service:
information hotline of the Federal Government...

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By telephone, email or post.

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Our Public Information Service answers

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hundreds of questions every week,
providing reliable facts.

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And for those who prefer to have
something in their hand:

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our range of publications is huge.

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Brochures, flyers, magazines -

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all free of charge
and easy to understand.

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Internal communication

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[Stefan Kornelius]:
Our range of information

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is not only aimed
at the outside world.

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We also provide information
internally.

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That means we provide
the Federal Government,

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its members and, incidentally,
the Federal President

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with reliable information about what is
happening in the world round the clock.

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To do this, we have developed
our own in-house News Centre,

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for which we evaluate
thousands of sources every day:

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agency reports, newspapers, magazines,
websites, social media,

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podcasts, and TV stations,
both national and international.

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And sometimes
being well informed

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also means recognising disinformation
before it causes damage.

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Esther Uleer: Disinformation is a real threat
to our democracy

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and we are
countering it with facts,

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transparency and
open communication.

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Transparency and
open communication

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You can find all the official information
from the Federal Government here,

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undistorted and freely accessible.

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You will also find
the Federal Chancellor’s speeches

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and press conferences in full.

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Friedrich Merz: Dear Ms Zaharieva,

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as a member
of the EU Commission,

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Esteemed colleagues
from the Cabinet...

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Esther Uleer: We also show
on our channels

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how everyone can take action
against disinformation themselves:

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for example, by checking sources
and not sharing anything in haste.

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Steffen Meyer: The elixir of life
and the best protection

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against manipulation
is an informed society.

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Sebastian Hille:
We explain government action.

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With facts, openly
and through dialogue.

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Stefan Kornelius: And that is our mission.
Today and in the future.

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For the people of the country
and for democracy.

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That is what the Press
and Information Office stands for.