A rare expression of her feelings … Merkel’s last speech in 2020

In her last speech to the people on the occasion of the New Year, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that 2020 was the most difficult year during her 15 years of leadership in Germany, but the start of vaccination to prevent Covid-19 disease made 2021 was auspicious.

In a rare expression of her sentiments, Merkel denounced a protest movement opposing the closure of institutions and lockdown measures, and said she would receive the vaccine when it was widely available.

She said: “Let me say something personally to conclude: after nine months, parliamentary elections will be held and I will not run again … So today in all cases will be the last time I address you on the occasion of the New Year.”

“I think I’m not exaggerating when I say: it has never happened in the last fifteen years that the past year has been so heavy. And it has never happened, despite all the fears and some doubts, that our aspiration for the new year was so hopeful” .

Merkel, 66, led Germany and the European Union through crises, including the 2008 financial crisis, the Greek debt crisis the following year and the immigrant crisis five years ago.

Merkel is a physicist whose management of the pandemic has been guided by scientific advice. He was praised for his control of the first wave, but that turned to criticism amid the feeling that he couldn’t deal with the second wave.

Germany, Europe’s largest economy, holds elections in September. Merkel, whose conservative party is expected to win the most seats in parliament, will likely hand over the leadership to one of three men vying for the leadership of the CDU.

And if the process of building the ruling coalition extends after the elections until December, Merkel will remain the chancellor of an interim government in 2022 until a new government is formed.