Ruptly
"German Chancellor Friedrich Merz admitted the economy was in serious trouble, the country had to 'pull itself together' - and previous promises that Ukraine conflict would not have an impact was 'at least too optimistic' - during a speech to trade unionists in Berlin on Tuesday. "My predecessor… exactly four years ago and shortly after the start of the Ukraine war, assured this body that the geopolitical changes, which he rightfully described as a turning point at the time, will have no impact on social policy and no impact on the situation of workers in Germany. Even though it is difficult, I must tell you today that this promise was at least too optimistic," he admitted. "The reality is that today no one can escape the changes, and these changes also have very practical impacts on the economic situation of every individual. we will have to set priorities now. We will no longer be able to do everything at the same time," Merz continued. Germany still remains Europe's largest economy. The chancellor also admitted "we have created problems for ourselves over too long a time that we now must solve." "We have simply failed to modernise our country," he told the audience. "Germany must therefore pull itself together." "You know it, we all know it, our economic development has been stagnating for years, for at least seven years, while other countries around us are growing, in some cases quite significantly," Merz went on. He also said that it would be impossible to continue as the country had for the past 20 years - and big changes were needed with 100,000 jobs now lost every year. He also said that promises made were 'too optimistic' and that "we will no longer be able to do everything at the same time." Merz was booed and jeered many times during the speech for his defence of cuts and reforms to pensions and healthcare, which he claimed were needed to get a grip on ballooning costs, and boost the economy. This is shown in an earlier package, also available on this site. He was speaking at the Congress of the German Trade Union Confederation."
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