Angela Merkel
Boris Johnson and Co. pay tribute to the Chancellor
Angela Merkel with Boris Johnson on her summer farewell tour in the UK.
© imago images / i Images
Angela Merkel resigns after 16 years. From Boris Johnson to Joe Biden, international politicians paid their farewell to the Chancellor.
Angela Merkel (67) is stepping down as Chancellor – after sixteen long years in which she saw foreign heads of state come and go. By comparison, there were five different Prime Ministers in office in Great Britain between 2005 and today, from Tony Blair (68) to Boris Johnson (57). In parting, politicians around the world paid tribute to the Chancellor, for whom she was a constant.
“Titanin”: Boris Johnson and Jean-Claude Juncker celebrate Merkel
In the “Bild” newspaper on Tuesday, several national and international politicians, among others, had their say in order to leave Angela Merkel a farewell. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson described the Chancellor as the “titan of international diplomacy”. You have “compared with all other European heads of state and government in this century certainly made the greatest contribution on the international stage”. He is also convinced that their “legacy will shape future generations”.
The former President of the EU Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker (66), regretted in the “Bild” that Merkel was disappearing from the “European screen”. “You will be remembered exceptionally well. You have always done Europe good,” wrote the Luxembourger.
Without Merkel like “Rome without the Vatican”
Angela Merkel was celebrated by her European colleagues at her last EU summit in October. The Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel (48) described Merkel as a “compromise machine” that Europe would still miss. The short-term Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg (52), who has since resigned, called Merkel a “haven of peace” and an “undoubtedly great European”. For Council President Charles Michel (45), a European Council without Merkel is like “Rome without the Vatican or Paris without the Eiffel Tower”.
US presidents pay tribute to Merkel
The Chancellor also made an impression outside of Europe. US President Joe Biden, 79, said at a reception at the White House in July: “I will miss seeing you on our peaks. I really will.” He also referred to her as a friend.
Former US President Barack Obama (60) recently also spoke up. In a video message, he highlighted the longstanding good cooperation. Obama was “happy” to be her friend. He described Merkel as a “role model” with an “inexorable moral compass”.