There she sat, this time in a wine-red blazer, and breathed on her glasses in order to have an overview of the Bundestag from an unfamiliar position. Angela Merkel lost her government office with the constitution of the new Bundestag. Only the fact that she has to continue the official business until a new chancellor, a new government is elected and in office, extends her era by a few more weeks.
But that their time is over, that was clearly visible to everyone on this Tuesday morning. Because after 16 years, the 67-year-old no longer took a seat on the government bench, but in the visitors’ gallery. After all, she had well-known neighbors: Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on her left, from whom she will receive her certificate of discharge that evening. Then the first female Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany will only be Chancellor on call. To her right sat the former President of the Bundestag Rita Süssmuth.
But what is happening takes place below in the plenary session of the Bundestag. From now on without her.