Chancellor Kurz travels to Berlin again and does not come empty-handed: he wants to hand over a farewell present that also binds Merkel to Austria.
Berlin - After 16 years there are now gifts: Angela Merkel's (CDU) chancellorship is nearing its end. In all these years she has traveled to numerous countries, met heads of state and government and cultivated contacts. Many now want to say goodbye to her in this office - Merkel recently got back on the plane more often after the Corona months. Among other things, she visited US President Joe Biden in Washington, traveled again to Russia's President Vladimir Putin and to the Ukraine to see President Volodymyr Selenskyj. She always had important items on the agenda of the world crises in tow.
In Berlin she will again receive guests in attendance, Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) is expected on Tuesday.
He has held this office since 2017, so far has not come close to Merkel's years - but only a few in the world do that.
In any case, Kurz thought about a parting present.
And Merkel's passion was taken up: classical music.
She has revealed this again and again in her very rare interviews over the past few years.
Merkel did not miss the Bayreuth Festival either.
She is considered a great supporter of Wagner's work.
In 2021, in her role as Chancellor, she celebrated her farewell there with her husband Joachim Sauer.
Chancellor Kurz comes to Berlin with a farewell present: Merkel receives a permanent invitation
According to Austrian media reports, Kurz will present the Chancellor with a permanent invitation to the Salzburg Festival for life at the meeting.
There is also a CD box for the 100th anniversary of the Festival.
Then Merkel can indulge a lot in memories as soon as she no longer has to attend appointments, important telephone calls and press conferences every day.
Kurz told the
Kronen Zeitung
about Merkel
:
“Looking back, I would say that Angela Merkel shaped Europe for 16 years like hardly anyone else.
I have always appreciated working with her. ”There will probably also be warm words about her at a press conference at noon.
Merkel and Kurz meeting in Berlin: Afghanistan issue on the agenda
But the meeting is ostensibly about a number of serious issues.
According to government spokesman Steffen Seibert, you want to talk about bilateral and European issues as well as the situation in Afghanistan.
Austria made headlines in this regard with the announcement that it would refuse to accept any further Afghan refugees.
Merkel has to mediate and find compromises even in the last weeks of her term of office.
However, Putin and Zelenskyi recently stressed that they would be happy to see Merkel visit even without an office.
With the Kurz season ticket, this also seems to apply to Austria.
(cibo)
