Berlin — Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged the residents of Germany, numbering 84 million, to remain united amidst various global challenges, an ailing economy, and the shock of a tragic attack at a Christmas market that left the nation reeling.

In his New Year’s address, set to air on Tuesday night, Scholz emphasized, “Strength comes from solidarity. We are a nation that comes together.” He expressed a collective optimism for the future, stating that the German population has the ability to make 2025 a promising year.

Acknowledging the pain caused by the Christmas market incident in Magdeburg, where five people lost their lives and over 200 were injured due to a car driven into a crowd by a Saudi doctor facing murder charges, the Chancellor said, “We are shocked by this inhumane act. How can such a deranged individual inflict so much harm?” He recognized the multitude of citizens grappling with the question of how to move forward following such tragedy.

Scholz expressed gratitude towards those who rushed to aid the injured and urged that incidents like the one in Magdeburg should not foster division among the German populace. “We are not a society of conflict or indifference towards one another. We are a community bound by solidarity, and we can draw strength from this — notably in challenging times like these, which we all acknowledge are indeed tough,” he remarked.

In light of the forthcoming general elections on February 23, Scholz encouraged citizens to participate in the democratic process, directly addressing recent comments made by tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, who suggested voters consider the far-right Alternative for Germany party. “It is you, the citizens, who determine the fate of Germany, not the owners of social media platforms,” Scholz stated firmly.

While admitting that the economy is facing difficulties and that the cost of living has increased, he struck a note of hope. “We represent just 1% of the world’s population yet stand as the third largest economy globally. This is a testament to our industrious nature.”

Looking ahead, the Chancellor reiterated, “Our future lies in the strength of our solidarity,” encouraging the people of Germany to enter the new year with renewed confidence and determination.