Angela Merkel's fourth term of office is drawing to a close.
What will the withdrawal of the head of government look like after the federal election in 2021?
Berlin - Angela Merkel, head of the Chancellery, has been in charge of the German government since 2005. A long time in which the now 67-year-old can look back on some ups and downs. The four terms of office for the native of Hamburg were often demanding and exhausting.
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However, anyone who believes that Merkel's political activity will end abruptly after the federal election is wrong: the head of government will also reside in the Chancellery: Article 69 of the Basic Law provides that business will continue until the new Federal Chancellor has been determined: On As requested by the Federal President, the incumbent is obliged to do so.
And it can take months for it to happen.
Angela Merkel will retire after the federal election in 2021 - or will she still be in office until 2022?
In the previous federal election, the CDU / CSU and SPD were only able to finally agree on a coalition agreement in March 2018 - the election took place six months beforehand.
We explain here how the process within the German Bundestag is.
It will be a while before Chancellor Merkel can focus on her retirement.
She could even break a record - and replace her political foster father Helmut Kohl as the longest-serving Federal Chancellor.
His term of office ended after 5870 days in 1998. If the 67-year-old is still in office on December 17, she will have the new record.
Until the new federal government is formed, the daughter of a pastor and a teacher will remain in office.
The responsible position ends with the first meeting of the new parliament.
Angela Merkel wants to take a break first
When the Union politician was visiting the USA in July, she was asked about the performance for her old age.
The Chancellor stated that she would not accept any invitations for the time being and would allow herself a break.
It is unaccustomed to someone else doing her job, but she will "like it well".
“Then I will understand that I have free time (...).
Take a break and think about what actually interests me, ”is her assessment.
Merkel is very tired, wants to close her eyes and then go to sleep, the Chancellor said in a striking robe (she received an honorary doctorate from a university) on US TV:
What would you do after nearly 16 years leading a country?
German Chancellor Angela Merkel was asked that on her last planned visit to the US - and said she might start with a nap.
pic.twitter.com/8wg3JdKDg7
- DW Politics (@dw_politics) July 15, 2021
Angela Merkel: Financially, the Chancellor took care of things
As with other busy workers, the question that arises for the “most powerful woman in the world” with the abrupt end of her professional life will be: Can someone who has been very busy for decades and has had great responsibility switch off?
At least financially, the long-standing head of government does not have to worry: due to the chancellorship, federal government (Federal Ministerial Act) and long-term membership in the Bundestag (parliamentary law), the gross monthly income will be reported to be over 35,000 euros. After the political end, she will initially continue to receive her salary for three months, then half of it for a maximum of 21 months as a transition allowance for retirement.
And even then, Angela Merkel's pension payments are considerable: the Chancellor can probably calculate with a monthly salary of around 15,000 euros from the pension claims offset against each other from over three decades.
In addition, there are other privileges: lifelong entitlement to personal protection and a company car including driver.
There is also an office in the premises of the Berlin Bundestag with office management, two speakers and a typist.
Angela Merkel after the federal election in 2021: pension or market economy?
In the past, the economic entanglements of Merkel's predecessors caused discussions: For example, Helmut Kohl (CDU) or Gerhard Schröder (SPD) used political contacts after their chancellorship ended in order to continue to earn money in the free market economy. In the meantime, before such agreements, former members of the government have to inquire at the Chancellery whether their activities “impair public interests”. There is also an ethics committee which, in case of doubt, imposes a waiting period of 18 months.
Is Angela Merkel looking for a new job after she leaves the Chancellery?
According to her own statements, she has been too busy to think about it.
After all, one thing seems fixed: She doesn't want to move to Hamburg - as has already been speculated.
She announced that she would stay in Berlin and the Uckermark.
"From there it is not far to
my former constituency
via the beautiful A20,
" said Merkel, referring to the Autobahn 20. Merkel was born in Hamburg, but her family moved from the Federal Republic to the GDR and later moved to Templin.