German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has urged people to pause, reflect and gather strength over Christmas, acknowledging the challenges of his first year in office.
“Christmas is a time to pause, be grateful, and find strength with family and friends,” Merz said in a Christmas message posted on Instagram. “I wish you a peaceful Christmas Day and confidence for the New Year. May this time strengthen and encourage us.”
In a separate video message lasting just over two minutes, Merz recalled a year dominated by February’s elections that brought him to power at the head of Europe’s biggest economy. He said compromise was needed to govern with his conservative bloc and the centre-left Social Democrats.
“There were discussions and not everything went completely smoothly,” Merz said.
“We need patience and perseverance, as well as staying motivated to make the best decisions for our country every day,” he said.
Merz also stressed his government’s focus on the future of Europe, highlighting peace, security and prosperity as key priorities. He reiterated his strong support for Ukraine, saying, “In these months and years, it is about peace, security and prosperity of our entire continent.”