In her New Year's speech, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called on citizens to go into 2017 with optimism and defy terrorism. But to guarantee "security in freedom," she said new security measures may be necessary.
Image: REUTERS/M. Schreiber
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The year 2016 is coming to an end, and 2017 is about to begin in Germany. In her New Year's speech, Chancellor Angela Merkel said that the past 12 months "tested us in many ways." Among those, Islamic terrorism was "without a doubt" the "most difficult test." The country saw a string of attacks throughout the year: in Würzburg, Ansbach and most recently, Berlin.
It is "a bitter reckoning - and a despicable one," said the chancellor, when terror attacks are committed by people "who came here ostensibly to seek safe haven and then received help and support." These acts "make a mockery" of the German willingness to help, and also those people "who truly need and deserve our protection."
Confidence and determination
As always, the sorrow over the dead and injured is great. That was evident in Merkel's speech. But in the midst of such tragedy, Merkel called for confidence "in a firm resolve to take a stand against the terrorists' world of hate with our humanity and solidarity."
The truck attack at the Breitscheidplatz Christmas market in Berlin killed 12 people in the crowd and wounded dozensImage: picture-alliance/dpa/B. Pedersen
The chancellor and leader of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) confirmed her position on refugee policy in her message for the new year. "And as we are confronted with images of the bombed-out city of Aleppo in Syria, we reiterate how important and vital it has been for our country to take in those who truly needed protection, and to help them become integrated here," she said.
For the chancellor, the terrorists live in a "hate-filled world" and the rule of law and democracy run contrary to that. "We are stronger when we are united. Our country is stronger," she said, adding that the state must also stand up to terrorism in order to guarantee "security in freedom" for its citizens. "In the coming year, if necessary, the German government will quickly introduce and enact additional legal and policy measures," said Merkel.
Merkel on Europe
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The chancellor expressed her wish for more unity and strengthened democracy in the new year. Many people, she said, would associate 2016 with the feeling that the world had been turned upside down. Successes like the EU and parliamentary democracy were questioned because they were supposedly not concerned with the interests of citizens.
"But this is a distorted picture," said Merkel. Yes, Europe moves slowly, she said, "but we Germans should never be led to believe that each state going its own way will lead to a prosperous future."
In September 2017, Germany will hold a federal election. Merkel also made mention of this in her New Year's speech. Parliamentary democracy requires "dissent and criticism," but it must be peaceful and respectful.
"I am committed to engaging in a political process that will see impassioned debate among democratic citizens who never forget what an honor it is to serve our democracy and its people," she said.
The many faces of Angela Merkel
Rarely a day goes by without new images of Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel being published. Her official face is often serious, her governing style cautious. But some images show there is more to Merkel.
Image: dapd
The 'Merkel diamond'
Merkel has become known for using the same hand gesture at public appearances and in front of the camera, putting her fingertips together to form what some call the Merkel-rhombus – or in German, the "Merkel-Raute." If she has done so consciously or as a routine gesture out of habit is a question that have contemporary critics and journalists puzzled. Just what is she trying to say with it?
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/Michael Kappeler
A European politician
The German chancellor is known for her commanding and engaged appearance, often appearing quite somber, especially in Europe. Though she has been known to crack a smile at the right time, here, at the recent European leaders summit in Bratislava, she was more composed. To her left is Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke and to her right, the Prime Minster of Belgium, Charles Michel.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/O. Hoslet
Selfie with the chancellor
Merkel has come into the spotlight for her response to last year's influx of refugees.. Questions about her response to the crisis can be answered when elements of her personal life are considered, as Rinke does in his book. She frequently visits schools and refugee shelters and while doing so, takes time out for selfies, as here in 2015 with Syrian asylum applicant Anas Modamani in Berlin.
Image: Getty Images/S. Gallup
A juggler in the coalition
As chancellor and head of the CDU party, Merkel faces a bit of difficulty in remaining considerate with some of her working partners. She does not respond with the huffiness her SPD party colleague Sigmar Gabriel is known for. Against attacks by the head of CSU Bavaria, the "archetypical Bavarian man," Horst Seehofer, she responds with cool objectivity.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/W. Kumm
Curious about the digital age
For trained physicist Angela Merkel, the world of the internet and digital media is said to be relatively foreign, although her team does now have an Instagram account, which is fed by her official photographer. Still, that didn't stop her from grabbing the ear of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg at a lunch meeting at the UN in 2015.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
The preacher's daughter
The daughter of a Protestant minister, Merkel's values are said by Rinke to have been shaped by her Christian upbringing. In 2016, she was given a private audience with Pope Francis I at the Vatican, where the two exchanged words on their favorite books.
Image: Reuters/A. Pizzoli
A toast to friendly political relations
Merkel is not known to let it all hang out and, though rare due to her full schedule, celebrations are done in style. In 2013, in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Élysee agreement between Germany and France, Merkel invited the entire parliament to toast the two countries' friendly relations over champagne.
Image: AP
A private chancellor
The chancellor gets only a few free vacation moments each year and even when on holiday, as here in Poland, she is not free from the prying eyes of the public. Her husband, Joachim Sauer, also pictured here, is rarely in the spotlight.
