Angela Merkel awarded the Grand Cross, the highest honor in Germany

Angela Merkel was awarded theHigh Cross of Merit by the President of the Republic Frank Walter Steinmeier. During the ceremony, which was held on Monday 17 April at Bellevue Castle, a Berlinthe former chancellor gave a short speech without engaging in any political reflection but limiting herself to thanking all those present, quoting them by name

War in Ukraine, Merkel: “I no longer had the power to influence Putin”

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In addition to the President of the Republic Steinmeier, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Merkel’s successor, was also present. The former chancellor also had the option of inviting 20 people to the dinner that followed the ceremony in the presidential residence

Germany’s Olaf Scholz sworn in as new chancellor. Closed was Merkel

As chancellor she has always said that “the president’s words apply in themselves and this is also true this time”. “Too bad my parents couldn’t be here,” she said in a more emotional passage than her own intervention. “I would like to thank my husband, Joachim Sauer”, she also stated, “I think his passion for science has helped him”

Angela Merkel also thanked Olaf Scholz and Ursula von der Leyen, who were present at Bellevue, “for finding the time to participate”. “I know how little time is available” when such mandates are exercised, she stressed

Merkel has been tireless in her efforts to resolve the crisis between Russia and Ukraine after 2013 and to accompany the negotiations for a truce, doing what was due. So German President Frank Walter Steinmeier at the handover ceremony

“Relations with Russia have changed since the time of Angela Merkel’s leadership in Germany”, underlined the head of state. “You, Frau Merkel, worked hard to exhaustion” for the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, up to the signing of the Minsk agreements which guaranteed a truce

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The absence, in the guest list, of Friedrich Merz, the leader of the CDU, as well as the leaders of the CSU and the Liberals, is newsworthy. The delivery of the honor is in fact much discussed and there are several critical voices on the actual budget of the Merkel era

The criticisms of the former chancellor come more from the centre-right of the CDU and the FDP than from the centre-left of the SPD and Verdi. The ex-chancellor has “great merits, especially at an international level”, but she has “also made mistakes, even glaring ones”. So Carsten Linnemann, vice president of the CDU, Merkel’s own party

Merkel’s farewell: I wish Scholz all the best