Barack Obama to speak in Berlin

Former US President Obama will visit Berlin, Zurich, and Amsterdam as part of his European tour in April and May. Obama will be in Berlin on May 3 for a public event at the Mercedes-Benz arena. He will discuss "the power of leadership, an equal society, and the responsibility of us all on how to deal with unprecedented times." The event is co-organized by the arena, and tickets range from €83 ($89) to €550.

Obama served as the 44th President of the United States from 2009 to 2017 and did not seek a third term. According to the German daily Tagesspiegel, he will be visiting Zurich on April 29 and Amsterdam on May 1.

The former President gained international attention during his 2008 election campaign with a speech in front of 200,000 people at Berlin's Victory Column. As President, he spoke in front of the Brandenburg Gate in 2013.

Obama's visit to Berlin is expected to attract a large audience, as he remains a popular figure in Germany. The visit also comes when the country prepares for September's federal elections.

The event's focus on leadership and annual society is also significant, as Germany and other European countries continue to grapple with issues of inequality, diversity, and leadership in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic challenges.