Five former top politicians talk about how difficult it was for them to leave, what they miss most today – and what they don’t miss at all.
Peter Altmaier: “Of course I itch sometimes”
The Saarlander and CDU politician Peter Altmaier (65) sat from 1994 to 2021 Bundestag, held various ministerial positions under Chancellor Angela Merkel and was considered one of her most important confidants. After losing the 2021 federal election, he withdrew from professional politics.
“On my last day at work, December 8, 2021, I had my driver take me to the ministry again to say a final goodbye to everyone and clear out my office. Then I returned home with the appointment of the new one Cabinet by theFederal President at noon that day my ministerial term was officially over.In the evening the handover to my successor Robert Habeck took place. Because I was no longer a minister at that time, I got a rental car specifically for this purpose and drove to the ministry in my “own” car for the first and last time.