{
  "id": 18608712,
  "title": "History: Merkel's appeal at \"encourager\" Biermann",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/geschichte-merkels-appell-beim-ermutiger-biermann",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-11-07T00:52:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/geschichte-merkels-appell-beim-ermutiger-biermann/100268033.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "Angela Merkel, former Chancellor of Germany, attended a ceremony at the Kino International in Berlin to mark the 50th anniversary of Wolf Biermann's expulsion from East Germany in 1976. Merkel, who grew up in East Germany, praised Biermann's music as a source of encouragement and urged citizens to actively defend the values of their democratic state. She emphasized that democracy needs the engagement of its citizens to thrive and that it is a continuous effort to protect freedom, opinion, and minority rights. Biermann, who turned 90 on November 15, was present at the event and performed some of his songs, which Merkel described as passionate and inspiring. Merkel and Biermann have a close relationship, with Biermann stating that he defends Merkel when people criticize her and values their friendship despite their differing opinions.",
  "summary": "50 years ago, the singer-songwriter Wolf Biermann was expelled from the GDR after a performance in the West. On the anniversary, the former Chancellor not only talks about how she saw the concert.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}