New Year's appeal 2024 from District Administrator Jürgen van der Horst
The year 2023 is slowly drawing to a close and a new year is already in the starting blocks. In this year's New Year's appeal, District Administrator Jürgen van der Horst reviews the past 365 days - and also looks ahead to the new year 2024.
Ladies and gentlemen, dear fellow citizens,
Once again, twelve eventful months have flown by. The days of 2023 are numbered. This last time of the year is often characterised by mixed feelings - the hustle and bustle of the festive and public holidays on the one hand. On the other hand, however, there is also a feeling of calm, of pausing, of looking back on the past 365 days and of new thoughts and plans for the coming year. Time is like travelling on a river: sometimes you glide along gently, while at other times you have to fight against the current in wind and weather: The past year was undoubtedly characterised by many major weather events - in Waldeck-Frankenberg and around the world.
At the beginning of last year, we were still clearly feeling the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Inflation, the energy crisis and climate change are issues that have preoccupied us - and continue to do so. However, in addition to the ongoing terrible war in Ukraine instigated by Russia, we are particularly shaken by the attacks by Hamas on Israel and the resulting renewed bloody conflict in the Middle East. The effects of the overall political situation have had a ripple effect that we in Waldeck-Frankenberg are also feeling. Clever and pragmatic answers had and still have to be found to many internal political questions. In short: 2023 was an eventful year.
Many of these questions will continue to concern us in 2024. Some will be answered and new ones will be added. The coming year will again bring numerous tasks and challenges here in Waldeck-Frankenberg: We will continue to struggle with the effects of global developments, events, crises and conflicts. And we will have to shape policy with a difficult financial budget situation in the district.
But we will shape it. We will discuss, weigh up, explore possibilities and perhaps discard them again, discuss new ideas and approaches and remain in constant dialogue and exchange - and ultimately we will also find solutions together for the tasks that the new year will bring in 2024. And I am sure that when I look back on 2024 in twelve months' time, I will be able to say that we will have kept our proverbial "steamer on course" in the flow of time and manoeuvred through the odd rapids. Values such as democracy, tolerance and respect will enable us to master the challenges together, respect different perspectives and still pursue common goals. This applies at federal and state level, but above all in local politics here at home.
Cohesion among each other will also play a major role in this. In the coming year, in which we will be "rounding the corner" and the district will be celebrating its 50th birthday, more than ever. We would like to use the district's anniversary, which we would like to celebrate with a few activities, to reflect on what unites us: namely that we are a strong community in Waldeck-Frankenberg and that people live here who are always committed to each other, to good projects, innovative progress and to the future of our beautiful district.
With this in mind, I wish you all the best for the new year. May you also set your course for the new year - and always follow your inner compass. Use the new year as an opportunity to pursue your own goals and realise your dreams. Be courageous, break new ground and don't be discouraged by setbacks. Because only through personal growth and commitment can we move forward as a community. I wish you and your loved ones a happy new year and a prosperous and peaceful 2024!
With best wishes,
Jürgen van der Horst