"Decision on the direction the country will take"

Statement by Chancellor Gerhard Schröder welcoming Federal President Köhler's decision to dissolve the Bundestag and schedule early elections

July 21, 2005

On July 21 President Horst Köhler announced his decision to dissolve parliament and to call a general election to be held on September 18. In a statement made in response to Köhler's decision Chancellor Gerhard Schröder said the vast majority of public opinion favored calling a general election and that the people will decide what direction the country is to go in. He indicated that he will be doing everything he can in the course of the next few weeks to convince voters to support his government's reform policies.

"Ladies and gentlemen,

the President has approved a new general election, to be held on September 18. I strongly welcome his sovereign decision.

My objective with the purposely failed confidence vote on July 1 was to open up the way for a new general election. Since announcing my intention I have received overwhelming public support.

Not just all the political parties but, more importantly, the vast majority of the citizens of our country want to a general election to be held. In September the people will speak.

They will decide what direction the country is to go in.

Do we, as a middle power, want to promote peaceful solutions to the conflicts in the world?

Do we, in Europe, want to work for a society that is economically strong but never forgets the need for social balance?

Do we want to live securely in our own country and to have everyone share in its prosperity?

I will run for re-election in September. I am doing this on the basis of my conviction that the reforms I have introduced - whether with regard to health care, pensions, or the labor market - are right and necessary.

They are necessary to preserve the welfare state that many envy us for. To preserve a social balance and to help us regain economic strength. And they are working, as is clearly demonstrated by the initial successes they have shown. Germany is on the right track. And an increasingly large number of people are coming to realize this.

I know that courage, perseverance, and steadfastness are needed to gain public acceptance for reforms.

In the course of the next few weeks I will be doing everything I can to convince voters to give me a mandate to continue the policy of reform I have begun and to pursue this policy with determination and, at the same time, with reason, careful judgement, and a sense of social responsibility."

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