Jens Weidmann: Calling on the government

Speech by Dr Jens Weidmann, President of the Deutsche Bundesbank and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Bank for International Settlements, at the Übersee-Club, Hamburg, 2 September 2020.

The views expressed in this speech are those of the speaker and not the view of the BIS.

Central bank speech  | 
04 September 2020

Introduction

Dear Mr Behrendt,

Many thanks for those kind words of introduction.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The coronavirus pandemic is currently dominating the public debate and political action. It is weighing heavily on the economy and is affecting all of our lives in a wide variety of ways. And it has also consigned events such as these to the virtual sphere. Which is a shame, because I would have loved to come to beautiful Hamburg to visit you in person.

The Übersee-Club's founding event was also held under adverse conditions - namely during the summer of 1922. Shortly beforehand, right-wing extremists had assassinated then-foreign minister Walther Rathenau, and the republic was in turmoil. Max Warburg, who had proposed the establishment of the club, feared for his life and was therefore unable to deliver his remarks in person.