German Minister Habeck: Nation deserves to ‘treat’ itself at Euros

During a plenary session of the Bundestag, German Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, Robert Habeck, expressed his thoughts on the upcoming Euro 2024 tournament in Germany. He referred to it as a moment for the nation to reward itself after a challenging period of four years. Despite facing difficulties such as the Covid-19 pandemic and economic crises related to the Russian war in Ukraine, Habeck believes that Germany is ready for the tournament.

Habeck emphasized the importance of the Euros as a time for Germany to come together and celebrate, acknowledging that the country still faces many challenges. He expressed hope that the tournament would bring joy to people, regardless of any potential economic impact. He also criticized a recent survey indicating that some Germans would prefer to see more white players on the national team, labeling such sentiments as racism.

The controversial survey conducted by Infratest dimap revealed that 21% of respondents expressed a preference for more white players in the Germany national team. This viewpoint was met with criticism from Habeck, who highlighted the diverse backgrounds of players on the team. The survey was commissioned to address racist comments made towards the national team during the filming of a documentary.

Overall, Habeck’s statements emphasized the importance of unity and inclusivity in German society, particularly in the context of a major sporting event like the Euro 2024 tournament. He called for a celebration of diversity and a rejection of discriminatory attitudes towards individuals based on their skin color.