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Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen promises a “better year” and wishes the people of Austria “the courage to dream.” The essential question for Van der Bellen is: “What future do we want to see?”
Now is the time “when we have to look further” – “without being afraid to also think completely new, without being afraid to think too big,” the federal president said.
“This year will be better” – that is what Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen promised in his New Year’s address on ORF, broadcasted on Friday evening. In addition to happiness and health, the head of state also wished “the courage to dream”. Because, said the Federal President, “Now is the time when we should dream how we can improve our world.” Specifically, he addressed, for example, nature conservation, but also coexistence, as well as flight and poverty.
“At some point in the next few months, there will slowly be a feeling that the pandemic is over, or at least under control,” Van der Bellen was at pains to exude confidence. However, he also pleaded for the year 2020 not to be forgotten as quickly as possible and for business as usual. Rather, he said, one should use “this short period of silence before the year really gets going” to reflect and think. “Because when we get over the pandemic – and we will get over it – do we really want to go back to exactly the world we had before?”
Don’t return to old problematic habits
The essential question for Van der Bellen is, “What future do we want to see?” Now is the time “when we have to look further” – “without being afraid to also think completely new, without being afraid to think too big,” the federal president found. “We are capable of unheard-of achievements when it comes down to it. After all, last year proved that.”
Some habits from the past are definitely problematic, he said, and people have to decide whether they really want to return to them or build the world anew and better than the old one. “For example, how about we get into the habit of seeing a thriving economy and a thriving nature not as opposites, but as goals that are mutually dependent?” suggested Van der Bellen. For example, he said, there are many new, climate-oriented and sustainable technologies that could become the engine of a new upswing.
Call for mutual respect and social togetherness
“And how would it be if we mitigated the screaming contrast between well off and on the run, or between rich and poor?”, Van der Bellen also opined. The Federal President also stressed that society becomes stronger through mutual respect. “How about breaking the trend of unforgiveness and aggression, the trend of retreating into one’s own virtual bubble and fighting other opinions bitterly?” Van der Bellen also appealed to the population to appreciate “our beautiful Austria and liberal democracy” more again, but also the European Union.
- Report and translation: Hector Pascua, Sources: orf and APA/picture: screenshot official facebook page of the President
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