For the second time within a few days, the German Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) has completed a state reception temporarily sitting down. Today, she sat together with the new head of government of Moldova, Maia Sandu, playing the national anthems of both countries. After repeated dithering attacks on public appearances, the Chancellor had handled this last week at the reception of the Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
The two heads of government sat down in front of the chancellery on two white armchairs, shortly thereafter began the staff music corps of the Bundeswehr with the playing of the national anthems. The subsequent joint discussion in the Federal Chancellery should focus on bilateral relations as well as European and regional issues. Sandu has been in office since the end of a serious political crisis in the former Soviet republic between Romania and Ukraine.
Merkel had suffered tremendous attacks on public appearances in recent weeks. The trembling first occurred on June 18 at the reception of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selensky. A short time later, on 27 June, the Chancellor had another tremor, this time in a speech by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on the occasion of the handover of the certificate of appointment to the new Minister of Justice Christine Lambrecht (SPD). The third time she suffered a tremor at the reception of the Finnish Prime Minister Antti Rinne on 10 July.
