this is deja vu news live from berlin germany's president tells people to pull together as the nation spends its 2nd easter under coronavirus restrictions we're not pandemic world champions but we're not sinatra fadia we in the federal republic of germany we may often have opt outs but this prince you were capable of and it's our capabilities not opt outs which matter now. and thousands of coronavirus skeptics rally in the german city of stuttgart so far the gathering of the so-called lateral thinkers movement has remained peaceful. and we visit an

exhibition in naples paying homage to the tough as nails celebrities of ancient rome the gladiators. welcome to the program german president frank falter steinmeyer is making a rare appeal for national unity this easter weekend steinmeyer is asking germans to pull together and set aside a crisis of trust in the government there is growing frustration as corona virus infections rise despite months of restrictions on daily life the authorities are also under fire over the slow pace of vaccinations president is urging people to remain positive despite the setbacks isn't enough some months ago after the 1st wave we were already complacently teaming ourselves pandemic world champion. and

now it's the opposite we are practically vying to outdo one another in doom and gloom does everything really have to be a super little of in germany as good to put it now shouting in triumph now sun can despair we're not pandemic world champions but we're not an utter failure no we're the federal republic of germany we may often have our doubts but there's plenty we're capable of and it's our capabilities not our doubts which matter now having compass its. chief political correspondent linda crane joins me now to put the german president's remarks into context. speech seemed to simultaneously encourage and schooled germans at what was the main message for you. i think he was doing exactly both of those things he began his remarks by saying that he knows that yet another appeal to patience and fortitude isn't exactly what people want to hear but

in fact ultimately that is exactly what his speech did do appeal to both patience and fortitude he addressed himself to both political leaders and citizens saying quote call yourselves together and he reserves particularly strong words for the political leaders acknowledging that mistakes have been made in testing in the vaccine roll out in digital solutions for example in schools and criticizing the ongoing tug of war between the federal government and regional political leaders over responsibility for imposing or lifting rules. i'd like us to listen to another clip and hear what you think about that. we must all pull together my fellow germans.