"Greetings, esteemed compatriots," or "Hello, valued citizens," or "Salutations, fellow countrymen," or simply "Greetings, Citizens," are possible paraphrases for the given phrase, "Dear fellow citizens."
In the heart of Europe, Germany's New Year's speeches have become a cherished tradition, a beacon of stability and unity for the nation. For over 50 years, the Federal Chancellor has taken to the airwaves to recap the political year, prepare for upcoming decisions, and provide a sense of security to the population.
This yearly event is the only scheduled occasion where the German Chancellor directly addresses the population, and it has been a tradition that has withstood the test of time. From Helmut Schmidt in 1977, who spoke directly to the nation following the kidnapping of Hanns Martin Schleyer by the RAF, to Angela Merkel in the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic, who sought to calm a severely unsettled population, the speeches have served as a means of communication and reassurance.
In recent years, the leadership style of Angela Merkel has set her speeches apart. She has broken with traditional leadership, presenting her leadership style more as an invitation and occasionally deviating from the script. This approach has been criticised and praised, but it has undeniably added a unique touch to her speeches.
In 2014, Merkel indirectly warned against the rise of the Pegida movement in her New Year's speech. Similarly, in her first speech in 2005/06, she humorously referred to the men's national team missing the football World Cup final despite a strong tournament performance, and the women's national team being world champions.
The speeches are not live, do not contain new information, and are not critical interviews. Instead, they provide a narrative function, ordering things and providing context. However, they often contain clichés that repeat every year, which some argue diminish their impact.
Peter Sprong, the chairman of the Association of German Language Speechwriters (VRdS), states that the predictability of the speeches is necessary to convey hope and courage. Rhetorician Sprong also states that direct address is the last resort and must be handled carefully. Olaf Scholz's demeanor in his New Year's speeches has a very patriarchal touch, according to Sprong.
In just under seven minutes of speaking time, Olaf Scholz used the word "we" 21 times in his New Year's speech for 2022/23. This repetition underscores the sense of unity and togetherness that the speeches aim to foster. In his New Year's address 2023, Scholz emphasized the social bond based on how we feel and interpret things together.
Political communication in Germany has taken a special path, with a greater emphasis on fact-oriented debate. This is evident in the tone of the Bundestag debates, which, despite the entry of the AfD, still focus on discussing matters in a factual and evidence-based manner.
Fabian Erhardt, a scientist at the University of Tübingen's Seminar for General Rhetoric, describes these speeches as "predictable and unifying traditions that structure the political year." Sprong criticizes the way heads of government distribute praise in their speeches, finding it condescending and diminishing.
The speeches serve as a reminder of the past year and a look towards the future. They provide a sense of continuity and stability, preparing the population for the decisions that lie ahead. Despite the occasional mistake, such as the one that occurred during Helmut Kohl's (CDU) speech in 1987, where the previous year's tape was played instead, the speeches remain a cherished tradition in Germany.
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