The Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel continues to astonish. In spite of her recent defeat in the local elections, she did not lose spirit and continues to exhibit a “manly” character. On March 31 she underwent surgery on a meniscus and three days later, on Sunday, she took part in the opening of the Hanover Fair on crutches, together with French Prime Minister Francois Fillon. Fillon was taking part in the event because France is this year’s official partner of the fair. The chancellor stated in her opening speech that in spite of the “task to refuse from using nuclear energy,” she cannot sacrifice the interests of German industry for this aim, reports DAPD.
Merkel stated that it is impossible to “move to the epoch of renewable energy sources by mere protests,” because a “corresponding infrastructure should be developed.” She underlined that “energy and industry” can not be set at loggerheads. Meanwhile, the French prime minister noted that “the German-French duo is Europe’s motor, and has proved that all differences can be settled.” Nearly 6,500 companies from 65 countries are going to take part in the world’s biggest industrial fair. The organizers expect over 200,000 visitors to come. “Renewable energy sources, environment-friendly technologies, designing the city of the future, and innovative materials are the main topics of the fair.
However, neither the exhibitors, nor the visitors can ignore the aftermaths of the earthquake in Japan and the accident on the Fukushima Nuclear Plant,” the report states.
