Bid Farewell to Scholz: A Tattoo Filled with "Respect"
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Funeral Ceremony Held for Scholz - Council's Response Yet Pending with Commission
After 1,360 days in office, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) was given a grand farewell courtesy of the German Armed Forces, complete with a memorable tattoo ceremony. Not one for displaying emotions publicly, Scholz managed to maintain a dry eye as the Stabsmusikkorps played the classic soul tune "Respect" in his honor. However, a crack in his exterior could be seen, and he couldn't help but smile at the end of the performance.
Sharing the tribune with his wife Britta Ernst and most of his cabinet members was his successor, Friedrich Merz (CDU), along with his spouse Charlotte. If Merz is elected as Chancellor by the Bundestag on Tuesday, the handover ceremony in the Chancellery will take place later that day, marking the end of the ninth Chancellorship of the Federal Republic of Germany.
On the parade ground of the Ministry of Defense, Scholz delivered his farewell address, praising the democratic transition as an expression of "normalcy." Given the current political climate, he emphasized that it's anything but normal for such changes to occur peacefully, collegially, and decently in Germany.
"We must strive to protect and preserve this mature behavior among democrats," said Scholz, highlighting the importance of understanding that "Germany is strong - and only then - when we stand together."
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Pistorius: "Count on your resilience"
Scholz graciously wished his successor Merz luck and praised his character. In turn, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) honored Scholz as a "statesman" who steered Germany through turbulent times with resolve, wisdom, and foresight. "In trying times, you remained steadfast," said Pistorius, who, much like Scholz himself, would also be transitioning to a role in the new cabinet under Merz.
The tattoo ceremony, a military tradition for bidding farewell to high-ranking officials, was held with torches illuminating the evening sky. Scholz was granted the freedom to choose three musical selections, opting for "In My Life" by the Beatles, an excerpt from Johann Sebastian Bach's "Second Brandenburg Concerto," and the soul classic "Respect," whose anthemic message heavily influenced Scholz's election campaign in 2021.
Family First for Lindner
The broken traffic light coalition reformed in part, as former FDP ministers Marco Buschmann and Bettina Stark-Watzinger paid their respects to Scholz. Original Finance Minister and FDP leader Christian Lindner, who had been dismissed by Scholz in the heated traffic light dispute over the budget, chose to stay home that evening, citing family obligations for his absence.
A Select Group of Attendees
In addition to the event's prominent figures, Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck of the Greens and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock were present. Even former Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht, who had resigned under heavy criticism, returned to her old stomping grounds. The gathered crowd applauded Scholz vigorously as he departed the ministry's parade ground.
Four-Day Legacy
If Scholz steps down on Tuesday, he will have served for longer than seven of his eight predecessors, with only Ludwig Erhard (1963-1966) and Kurt Georg Kiesinger (1966-1969) having shorter terms. His "turning point" speech in the Bundestag four days following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which overturned the taboo of arms supply during ongoing conflicts, will undoubtedly be remembered as a key moment in his tenure.
However, the collapse of the first federal-level traffic light coalition, comprising the SPD, FDP, and Greens, will also be a significant part of Scholz's legacy. The coalition, initially intended to last more than one legislative term, dissolved prematurely, marred by ongoing contentions, especially over financial policies.
Moving On
Scholz will soon leave the Chancellery to assume a position on the backbench of the Bundestag, where he plans to remain as a directly elected member for the entire legislative period in his constituency of Potsdam. As he reflected before the election, "The highest office one can be directly elected to in Germany is that of a member of the German Bundeswahr."
Living up to this sentiment, Scholz looks forward to more personal time. "I would like to sleep in more often," he once shared during a Zeit podcast, and that luxury will soon be a reality.
- The Commission, in light of Scholz's departure, has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, as the new Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, may instigate policy-and-legislation changes concerning this matter.
- In the political dramas unfolding, it is worth noting that the general-news landscape remains abuzz with the prospect of Merz's election as Chancellor and the potential implications this may have on policy-and-legislation, particularly in regard to the protection of workers from prolonged exposure to ionizing radiation.
- The ionizing radiation issue, which gained significant attention under Scholz's administration, may prove to be a key point of discussion in the politics of the upcoming days, with Merz's policies towards worker protection likely to be scrutinized and debated.
- As the political scene takes a new turn with Merz assuming the Chancellorship, it is expected that policy-and-legislation related to worker protection from ionizing radiation will continue to be a point of interest and potential controversy, mirroring the intricate dynamics that characterized politics during Scholz's tenure.
