Outgoing Chancellor: Merkel has already initiated the move to "Margot Honecker's office"

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Will be associated with Angela Merkel for a long time: the diamond

Photo: Michael Kappeler / dpa

The outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel has said goodbye to the Union parliamentary group after more than 30 years in the Bundestag.

She will not disappear, but will move into "Margot Honecker's office" on Unter den Linden - where Helmut Kohl's office as former chancellor was, Merkel reported.

In the Bundestag building at Unter den Linden 71, where Merkel's future office is located, the GDR minister of education, Margot Honecker, used to have her seat.

In Merkel's office in the Chancellery there were several large wooden chess pieces that the Association of Forest Owners had given her.

A "lady" chess piece has already moved to her "Honecker office", the others are being stored, Merkel was quoted by participants in the meeting.

"Be wise!" Merkel advised the MPs after concurring reports with a view to the role of the opposition.

She will continue to be available for questions, but will not give advice publicly.

"The CDU must continue to take care of the major future tasks," said Merkel, referring to climate protection.

"I didn't make up the crises"

For yourself, 30 years of membership in the Bundestag is coming to an end, said the outgoing Chancellor.

"I did not come up with the crises and brought them to the parliamentary group." The crises would remain "if I am no longer Chancellor".

Union faction leader Ralph Brinkhaus (CDU) had previously publicly recognized Merkel for her 16 years as head of government.

Merkel »shaped an era.

She is in line with Konrad Adenauer and Helmut Kohl, ”he said.

It was the last official parliamentary group meeting of the Chancellor - but not the farewell.

That will be made up for in the spring if you don't have to wear masks because of the corona pandemic, as is now the case.

Merkel has shaped a style that is highly recognized worldwide, which was not designed to ensure that there are winners and losers, but rather that both sides can go straight out of the negotiations, said Brinkhaus.

That was good for the world and Europe.

svs / AFP / dpa