Chancellor Angela Merkel called on all citizens to combat hatred in the country during a military ceremony on Thursday as she bid farewell after 16 years at the helm of German politics. The ceremony, also known as “Grosser Zapfenstreich,” or Grand Tattoo, is the highest military ceremony held by the German armed forces, the Bundeswehr, for a civilian.
“Our democracy also lives from the fact that wherever hatred and violence are seen as a legitimate means of pursuing one’s interests, our tolerance as democrats has to find its limit,” Merkel said. “I would like to encourage you in the future to look at the world from other people’s perspectives as well,” she added. “Wherever scientific insight is denied and conspiracy theories and hatred are spread, we need to resist,” Merkel declared.
She also stressed the importance of maintaining trust in public institutions for the long-term preservation of democracy. “The last two years of this pandemic have shown how important the trust in politics, science, and societal discourse is—but also how fragile it can be,” she noted. Merkel stated that democracy “depends on solidarity and trust, including the trust in facts.”
During her 16 years as Chancellor, Merkel guided Germany through a financial crisis, a surge of migrants from the Middle East that led to divisions within German society, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Much of her legacy lies in her efforts to combat rising euro scepticism and to safeguard the European Union (EU).
Following the 2008 global recession, Merkel emerged as a leading figure in the effort to save the Euro from the debt crisis damaged the economies of several EU members, particularly Greece. She played a major role in the EU and International Monetary Fund’s bailout of Greece in return for severe spending cuts. However, the harsh austerity measures also led to widespread protests in Europe against Merkel’s policies.
Holding a torch for Merkel.
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) December 3, 2021
Members of the German armed forces carry torches as they march at the Defence Ministry during the Grand Tattoo (Grosser Zapfenstreich), a ceremonial send-off for outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin
📸 Stefanie Loos pic.twitter.com/6mduhXBs2p
Merkel, being a staunch supporter of liberal internationalism, maintained cordial relations with the United States (US) and enjoyed good personal relations with former American presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. However, following the victory of Donald Trump in the 2016 US election, relations between the US and Germany soured. She even said in 2017 that the US was no longer a reliable partner for Europe and Germany.
Closer to home, even though Merkel has criticised a lot of Russia’s policies, she insisted on maintaining strong economic and business ties with Moscow. Merkel has condemned Russian interference in German elections and its disinformation campaigns, its annexation of Crimea, and the attempted assassination of Alexei Navalny. However, she has also come under fire from the US for going ahead with Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project that will bypass Ukraine and transmit Russian gas directly to Germany.
With respect to India, Merkel’s called New Delhi a “central partner” in combating international issues, including the climate crisis and threats to international peace. Additionally, Germany views India as a key ally in its Indo-Pacific strategy. Under her leadership, Germany has expanded its role in the Indo-Pacific region by outlining a comprehensive strategy for the region in 2020 with the aim of containing China’s rise.
During the ceremony, she also talked about her tenure as Chancellor for more than a decade and said that the years at the top both “challenged [and] fulfilled” her. “The 16 years as chancellor were eventful and often challenging years,” she noted.
Merkel is currently leading Germany’s caretaker government and will remain in office until her successor Olaf Scholz takes office next week. Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SDP) narrowly won the 2021 federal election held in September and announced a coalition with The Greens and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) last month to form a new government.
The outgoing Chancellor wished Scholz “success” in leading the country. “Now it is up to the next government to find answers to the challenges that lie ahead and shape our future,” she said.