HALLE (Germany) – Angela Merkel urged Germans to find a shared future that draws from their different backgrounds on Sunday. She was referring to her 2015 decision to accept 1 million refugees, which she considered a defining moment in her lengthy chancellorship.

Merkel looked close to tears as she spoke at the anniversary of reunification. It may not be her last speech before she steps down. But, it is possible that talks about building a new government coalition in the wake of last month’s election will take several months.

According to her, the German reunification of 31 years ago brought many opportunities for those from East Germany, the place she was born. However, many people suddenly found themselves “in a dead end”.

Her voice was teetering as she spoke, recalling how an editor had said last year that she wasn’t “true born German”, after telling reporters that in 2015 she stated that journalists should “start apologising” for being friendly during the refugee crisis.

Is there a difference between Germans and Europeans? The acquired and original have to be proven each day, and they can also fail an exam with a sentence similar to the one at the press conference. She asked.

Merkel’s 2015 Refugee Crisis, in which she opened Germany’s borders to 1,000,000 migrants fleeing poverty and war in the Middle East, was her most controversial decision as a leader. This led to the rise and popularity of the Alternative for Germany (AfD).

Merkel asked, “What’s my country?”Merkel replied, “each individual must feel heard and be part of the country.”

She called for Germany to be a place where “we shape the future together” and added: “Be open-minded, curious about each other, share your stories with one another, and accept differences.” These are the lessons learned from 31 years in German unity.

Merkel described last year’s decision, which was taken on the 30th Anniversary of Germany’s Reunification, of limiting civil liberties to stem the spread of coronavirus, as “one the most difficult experiences” in her tenure as chancellor.

Merkel became the leader of Germany in 2005 when George W. Bush, Jacques Chirac (Paris Elysee Palace) and Tony Blair (British prime minister) were U.S president. After the elections last Sunday, she plans to resign.