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Merkel and Johnson at the climate summit in Glasgow
Photo: Chris Furlong / Getty Images
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has honored the outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel as the "Titan of international diplomacy".
In a guest contribution for »Bild«, Johnson wrote: »Compared to all other European heads of state and government in this century, she has certainly made the greatest contribution on the international stage, and I am convinced that her legacy will shape future generations."
With the planned election of Olaf Scholz (SPD) as Chancellor, the Merkel era will end on Wednesday after 16 years in the Chancellery.
The SPD, Greens and FDP want to sign their coalition agreement on Tuesday morning.
On Merkel's farewell, other companions and prominent personalities also wrote guest articles in the newspaper:
Ex-Foreign Minister
Sigmar Gabriel
(SPD) declared that Angela Merkel would “go down in history as an important Chancellor.
Because it kept this country and with it Europe stable and on course «.
He added: "Even when seated, the German head of government exuded more political power than many who stood and posed in front of her in apparent size."
The former Hessian Prime Minister
Roland Koch
(CDU) wrote that Germany owes Merkel that the time since reunification has not only been shaped by West German perspectives.
The former Bavarian Prime Minister
Edmund Stoiber
(CSU) called Merkel a "state servant in the best sense".
Its reputation is "unsurpassed in Europe and the world, even if the EU has not followed all of its demands for a strong Europe."
The former figure skater
Katarina Witt
wrote: "For me you were a reliable rock in the global political surf, hardworking and tireless."
The singer
Peter Maffay
is quoted as saying: "You were admirably incorruptible - neither applause nor privileges could tempt you."
Just a few days ago, SPIEGEL had eight companions of Merkel have their say.
You can read here what Horst Seehofer, Dietmar Bartsch and Jean-Claude Juncker, among others, said on leaving the Chancellor.
aar / dpa