"It's the best Germany we ever had" says German president Gauck in farewell speech

Record ID: 164747

  • Title: "It's the best Germany we ever had" says German president Gauck in farewell speech
  • Date: 18th January 2017
  • Summary: BAND PLAYING MUSIC
  • Embargoed: 1st February 2017 12:42
  • Keywords: president Gauck speech farewell
  • Location: BERLIN, GERMANY
  • City: BERLIN, GERMANY
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0025ZLYGCN
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:German president Joachim Gauck on Wednesday (January 18) called his country "the best, the most democratic" there ever was. In his farewell speech before leaving office in March this year the Gauck also urged future generations of Germans to protect democracy.
    "I wish for them to have the courage to tackle current challenges in a way that this country remains such a liveable place. And preferably without some of the flaws that we have now," Gauck said in Berlin.
    A new president, expected widely to be Frank-Walter Steinmeier, is to be elected on Feb. 12 to the largely ceremonial post now held by Gauck, a Lutheran pastor who made his mark as an anti-communist leader in the former East Germany. Steinmeier, a social democrat is currently serving as Germany's foreign minister.
    Gauck's term expires in March, six months before Germany holds a parliamentary election.
    The president is not directly elected by the people, but rather by the Federal Convention, an assembly of members of the federal parliament and delegates from state parliaments.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: Audio restrictions: This clip's Audio includes copyrighted material. User is responsible for obtaining additional clearances before publishing the audio contained in this clip.
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