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German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that Afhganistan's government and army had “collapsed at a breathtaking pace” in the face of the Taliban's offensive, at a Union election campaign event in Berlin on Saturday.
“We had expected the resistance to be stronger,” Merkel said, before adding that what was most important now was to rescue people, "above all those who helped us."
The Taliban's campaign followed the announcement in April that the US and other NATO states would be withdrawing their forces from the country. Former president Ashraf Ghani has since fled Afghanistan and the US has evacuated its embassy staff from Kabul, as have many other NATO states.
The outgoing chancellor also emphasised the special nature of the upcoming German general election, pointing out it was the first since 1949 where the incumbent was not running for office again, as she spoke to an audience that included Christian Democratic Union (CDU) chancellor candidate Armin Laschet, Christian Social Union (CSU) leader Markus Soder, and other senior Union bloc figures.
After noting her administration's progress on fighting unemployment and electric cars she went on to urge party members to fight 'every hour' to ensure the Union a parliamentary majority and to get Laschet into the Chancellery.
Germany is set to go to the polls on Sunday, September 26, with Politico's Poll of Polls placing the Union on 24 percent, with the Social Democratic Party (SPD) on 20, while the Greens sit at 18.
SOT, Angela Merkel, German Chancellor (German): "I am also thinking about the drama and tragedy in Afghanistan. The situation in Afghanistan deteriorated dramatically about a week ago with the conquest of Kabul by the Taliban. The Afghan government and army collapsed at a breathtaking pace, and we had expected the resistance to be stronger, that goes with it. In these hours the most important thing is to save people, our own nationals, German citizens, citizens of other NATO states, and above all those who helped us."
SOT, Angela Merkel, German Chancellor (German): "I hope to be able to speak on behalf of all of you, we want them to return home safely. It is a very dangerous enterprise. And a very profound thank you to all soldiers that were involved in this operation."
M/S Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Armin Laschet sitting with arms folded as Christian Social Union (CSU) leader Markus Soder (L) and others applaud
SOT, Angela Merkel, German Chancellor (German): "We together, CDU and CSU, Armin Laschet, Markus Soder, Alexander Dobrindt, Ralf Brinkhaus, all secretary generals, we are all together. And this general election is a very special one. It is the first general election since 1949 where the acting Chancellor is not seeking reelection."
SOT, Angela Merkel, German Chancellor (German): "In 2005 our country had over five million unemployed. In the time of our government we cut that figure in half. Even in the midst of a pandemic, this figure now is clearly under three million and remains close to 2.5 million."
SOT, Angela Merkel, German Chancellor (German): "In 2009 I also said that for 2020 I wanted a million electric cars, in 2009. We achieved this goal in the second semester of 2021. Six months later, I would say good enough.
SOT, Angela Merkel, German Chancellor (German): "And that is why I would say, it is worth it to fight in the remaining 35 days, every hour, every hour so that the CDU and CSU may be strong in the German parliament. Every hour so that we can shape Germany well and lead it to a good future, and that of course with Armin Laschet as our future Chancellor."
#Merkel #Germany #Afhganistan
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