The Church is Christians meeting in times of social crisis. For Merkel, it is a farewell, for all the politicians on a stage. From Dortmund Leonie von Hammerstein, Christoph Strack.
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Merkel for the German Protestant Kirchentag
In the end, it seems like the enthusiasm for a pop star. Because the people at the Protestant Church in the crowded Westfalenhalle in Dortmund and not to listen to gossip. And German Chancellor Angela Merkel stands on the stage and waving. She smiles and looks a little embarrassed and destroyed by the tedious EU summit in Brussels.
It is the last appearance of Angela Merkel as Chancellor in the case of such a large Evangelical Church meeting in Germany. Since the soon to be 65-year-old pastor’s daughter in 2005, has been Chancellor, she took part in almost every Church and Catholic day. Parting is sometimes in the air. Some of your words sound like the legacy.
If you, responsive once again, the youth, to the dark German history of the Holocaust, recalls: “Soon there will be no witnesses of the Second world war more. Then the responsibility will lie with those who have not experienced this.” And you don’t attack the Church Convention Motto “What is success for a trust,” to: “Without trust as a basis for international policy.”
“International politics is not possible without trust”- Angela Merkel at the Kirchentag
The Chancellor promotes dialogue in the policy, multilateralism and “the inner readiness to start again”. One of the most important politicians of Africa formulated for you an early obituary. Merkel says Nobel peace prize laureate and former Liberian President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, was the “pioneer” for multilateral cooperation. “You have come so far – you can’t stop now.” Already there interrupt a Standing ovation to the discussion. And Merkel seems to be touched.
Reflect the division of society
The great Christians of a meeting of the participants of the so-called big politics in Germany. On the five days in Dortmund, Germany, there are 80.000 duration participants, this Saturday certainly many Thousands more. Time for Selfies or autographs, but also for the great debate or the screaming interferer. The organizers have invited top executives of the Union parties, the SPD and the Greens, a few Left-wing and Liberal, and in this year, no one from the AfD. Got almost all of the SPD Federal Minister, hardly any of the CDU and the CSU.
In terms of content, Federal President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier, sets the accent. He calls for honest debate and commitment in the face of massive societal problems: the climate crisis, anti-Semitism, right-wing extremism, xenophobia, digitisation and politician-Bashing on the net. Steinmeier as well as Angela Merkel Express their dismay over the murder of Christian Democrat politician Walter Lübcke. The alleged extreme right-wing did and the reactions from the right-wing populist camp to ensure that the Non-welcomes the invitation of the AfD to a large extent.
Armed to conservatism
This division of the company address on Saturday, the Minister-President of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, the Protestant Markus Söder (CSU), and the Catholic Winfried Kretschmann (Green), on a panel with three representatives of the scientific community. A serious, exciting, and sometimes even philosophical conversation. Both leaders describe how they wrestle with climate and refugee policy, the regulations and the cohesion of society.
Hot it is on Saturday in Dortmund, the participants of the Evangelical Church of the tags to protect yourself from the sun
Church tags President Hans Leyendecker and the pronounced conservative Mainz historian Andreas Rödder break a lance for conservatism. “Conservative has nothing to do with extreme-right or right-wing,” says Leyendecker. Rödder says, the “fundamental problem of political culture in Germany” was a “moral exclusion, the absolutised at the same time, the Own”. The Fridays-for-Future-cites as an example of this movement is not well in the comrades-in-arms and in the hall.
More consent reaps, that the politicians speak of “ethnic” and “nationalist” moves in the AfD. Riddering, describes from his point of view, the “self-radicalisation” of the Alexander Gauland. The had once been but a moderate and intelligent Conservative. This dispute, to conservatism, to Preserve, and Change is good for the Church.
These Meetings have often given the drive for social processes, be it in Protest against rearmament, or in the case of the solution to the global debt crisis. This year, the young Stars are the Fridays-for-Future-young people who show up on more podiums, as provided for in the program, and to formulate well-behaved and determined their impatience. After that, also the Federal environment Minister, Svenja Schulze, announcing quite boldly with a strong climate protection law by year-end, then acts, on the Podium as a defensive player.
Merkel. And Habeck
And then the last appearance of the Chancellor Merkel. Neither Kramp-Karrenbauer Annegret yet Friedrich Merz still Jens Spahn talk in Dortmund. Oha. However, Robert Habeck, the Green one with the highest media attention.
Questions of faith on the Red couch – Robert Habeck, with presenter Claudia Dinges
The day before he sits for 30 minutes on the Red Sofa in front of the Westfalenhalle. This is stage pur. One celebrity after another takes place there, a Journalist asks chatting-seriously, and the onlookers and strollers find a seat and listen. Habecks conversation partner wants to know if he – before he would Chancellor – stop-keep the monastery going. The 48-Year-old slows down, responds almost annoyed. “This boulevardeske have-Se-not-Lust-Chancellor fails to recognise will be to-Yes, what it’s about,” he says. And speaking of the hazards of the society, of systemic crises, the cleavage, the dramatic world situation. “The question for the Chancellor candidacy is then answered when the time comes.”
Habeck, who describes himself as a secular Christian, tells of the sense and search. That he had read decades ago-Augustine and Francis of Assisi, and also other great authors of the history of the Church. What does he say to Believe, asks the presenter at the end. “I believe that Faith can move mountains.”
So it is, by the way, at Merkel also started on the Kirchentag. And Habeck, more Curious than almost two hours earlier, in the case of Margot Käßmann, “the” female face of the Evangelical Church. More listeners than in the case of Käßmann – it’s pretty rare for a Church Convention.