Merkel to give rare unscheduled TV interview on Germany's Covid-19 situation
Chancellor Angela Merkel is making the unusual move of giving a special, unscheduled TV interview on Tuesday.
The 15-minute programme, which was announced at short notice on Tuesday morning, will be broadcast early Tuesday evening.
Merkel will answer questions on the troubled vaccine rollout in Germany, as well on the coronavirus situation and shutdown.
READ MORE: Germany to launch national vaccination campaign amid disappointment over shortages
On announcing the programme, ARD's Das Erste channel said the last months of Merkel's Chancellorship have been "the most challenging".
"After the long months of crisis, the economy and the population are hoping for a more relaxed situation thanks to vaccines," continued the broadcaster.
"But supply bottlenecks of the pharmaceutical companies make the government look weak. The national vaccination summit aims to change that: a vaccination plan is to be worked out next week to make vaccinations more reliable.
"At the same time, the government continues to appeal to the population and asks for patience and understanding. The opposition is dissatisfied: it criticises omissions and too few tangible results.
"How does the government intend to provide the states and municipalities with the much-needed security to be able to plan vaccinations?
"And how does the Chancellor intend to motivate the population to stick to the ongoing measures?"
Merkel will be interviewed by Tina Hassel, Studio Manager and editor-in-chief for television at the ARD Capital Studio, and ARD editor-in-chief Rainald Becker.
Aside from her annual New Year's Eve speeches, it's unusual for Merkel to appear on prime time TV.
Last year at the beginning of the crisis, Merkel addressed citizens directly via a televised statement.
In the dramatic appeal in March 2020, Merkel urged everyone to play a part in slowing down the virus.
"The situation is serious. Take it seriously," she said.
"Not since German reunification, no, not since the Second World War has our country faced a challenge that depends so much on our collective solidarity," she said.
But lately few motivating messages have come from the Chancellor.
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The 15-minute programme, which was announced at short notice on Tuesday morning, will be broadcast early Tuesday evening.
Merkel will answer questions on the troubled vaccine rollout in Germany, as well on the coronavirus situation and shutdown.
READ MORE: Germany to launch national vaccination campaign amid disappointment over shortages
On announcing the programme, ARD's Das Erste channel said the last months of Merkel's Chancellorship have been "the most challenging".
"After the long months of crisis, the economy and the population are hoping for a more relaxed situation thanks to vaccines," continued the broadcaster.
"But supply bottlenecks of the pharmaceutical companies make the government look weak. The national vaccination summit aims to change that: a vaccination plan is to be worked out next week to make vaccinations more reliable.
"At the same time, the government continues to appeal to the population and asks for patience and understanding. The opposition is dissatisfied: it criticises omissions and too few tangible results.
"How does the government intend to provide the states and municipalities with the much-needed security to be able to plan vaccinations?
"And how does the Chancellor intend to motivate the population to stick to the ongoing measures?"
Merkel will be interviewed by Tina Hassel, Studio Manager and editor-in-chief for television at the ARD Capital Studio, and ARD editor-in-chief Rainald Becker.
Aside from her annual New Year's Eve speeches, it's unusual for Merkel to appear on prime time TV.
Last year at the beginning of the crisis, Merkel addressed citizens directly via a televised statement.
In the dramatic appeal in March 2020, Merkel urged everyone to play a part in slowing down the virus.
"The situation is serious. Take it seriously," she said.
"Not since German reunification, no, not since the Second World War has our country faced a challenge that depends so much on our collective solidarity," she said.
But lately few motivating messages have come from the Chancellor.
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