Chancellor Angela Merkel has called for the defense of democracy against hatred, violence and misinformation. Everywhere where scientific knowledge is denied, conspiracy theories and agitation are disseminated, contradictions must be loud, she said on Thursday evening at a big tattoo in her honor in the Bendler block in Berlin. "Our democracy also lives from the fact that wherever hatred and violence are seen as a legitimate means of pursuing our own interests, our tolerance as democrats has to find its limit."
With the big tattoo, the Bundeswehr said goodbye to the CDU politician after 16 years in office.
The ceremony is the highest honor of the armed forces and is reserved above all for federal presidents, chancellors and defense ministers.
Most recently there was a major tattoo in front of the Reichstag building to end the Bundeswehr's mission in Afghanistan.
"All, all the best and a lucky hand and good luck"
Like everyone honored on this path, Merkel was allowed to choose three pieces of music.
She decided on the hymn "Great God, we praise you", the chanson "For me it should rain red roses" by Hildegard Knef and Nina Hagens hit song "You forgot the color film".
The punk singer thus had a hit in the GDR in 1974.
Merkel was studying physics in Leipzig at the time.
Merkel watched the big tattoo while seated and was visibly moved.
Due to the corona, significantly fewer guests were able to take part than usual.
Among the guests were Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the future Federal Chancellor-designate Olaf Scholz (SPD).
In her speech before the actual ceremony, Merkel wished him and his government “all the best and a lucky hand and good luck”.