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Last appearance as Chancellor - Merkel uses an unfamiliar aid

2021-10-26T21:01:45.468Z


Angela Merkel directed the fortunes of the government for 16 years. The Bundestag was reconstituted on Wednesday. The Chancellor surprised with her look.


Angela Merkel directed the fortunes of the government for 16 years.

The Bundestag was reconstituted on Wednesday.

The Chancellor surprised with her look.

Berlin / Munich - It was an unusual sight.

The government bank in the German Bundestag was orphaned, the plenum was bursting at the seams: On Wednesday (October 26th) the constituent meeting of the newly elected parliament took place.

After the general election, it was the first official parliamentary session for the MPs - and the last for Angela Merkel as Chancellor.

She was officially dismissed that evening, but she and her cabinet will remain in office until the government is formed.

The outgoing Chancellor watched the first session of the Bundestag from the official gallery.

At the side of Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Angela Merkel surprised with her look.

Angela Merkel surprises with an unusual accessory in the stands

During her 16-year chancellorship, the Chancellor made hardly any use of her glasses. It was not until the New Year's address in 2005 that most citizens became aware that Angela Merkel wears glasses. Afterwards, the Chancellor only wore a visual aid on rare occasions, such as football matches. The fact that Merkel used her glasses was probably also related to her unfamiliar seat. Instead of sitting on the government bench, as in previous years, she sat between Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the former President of the Bundestag Rita Süssmuth (CDU) quite far above the lectern.

During the constituent meeting, Merkel took her glasses out of her pocket, cleaned them extensively and then put them on.

Under her bespectacled eyes, the Bundestag's senior president, Wolfgang Schäuble, who was confirmed against the will of the AfD, warned: "It takes a self-confident parliament - self-confident parliamentarians." If we want to strengthen representation, then we have to keep trying to attract the fascination of the big, contentious debate. ”Schäuble received a standing ovation for his speech - from all parliamentary groups.

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Angela Merkel and Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier follow the constituent session of the Bundestag

© Michael Kappeler / dpa

Angela Merkel officially dismissed by Frank-Walter Steinmeier

In the further course of the meeting, the MPs elected Bärbel Bas as President of the Bundestag by a large majority.

The SPD politician called for respectful dealings with one another in the Bundestag and emphasized: "We are not here to fight each other personally."

The last item on the program of a packed day in the Reichstag building belonged to Angela Merkel.

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier formally dismissed the government.

The Chancellor and her cabinet will direct the fortunes of the government until a new Chancellor is elected.

How often Angela Merkel will present herself with glasses before her final withdrawal from politics remains to be seen.

(

jif

)

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2021-10-26

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