The Zeitenwende speech was an address delivered to the Bundestag by Olaf Scholz, the Chancellor of Germany, on 27 February 2022. His speech was a reaction to the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February. Scholz described the attack as a "historic turning point" (German: Zeitenwende, literally: "times-turn," referring to the change from one age or era to another) and announced that in response his government would use a €100 billion fund to significantly increase military spending, reversing Germany's previously cautious defence policy.
Scholz's speech was well received by most German and international politicians, and was endorsed by the leader of the opposition Friedrich Merz. Newspapers praised the speech's policy content with The Economist crediting it with facilitating the modification of long-held positions in politics and society. Patrick Wintour of The Guardian wrote that Scholz had announced a "180-degree course correction".[1]
- ^ Helferich, John (2023). "The (false) promise of Germany's Zeitenwende". European View. 22 (1): 85–95. doi:10.1177/17816858231157556. ISSN 1781-6858.