Bid Adieu: Scholz's Farewell Tattoo - A Respectful Goodbye
Farewell Tribute: Permanent Ink Memorializing Scholz's Tenure - "Farewell with Regard":
Have a seat and get comfortable, we're diving into the world of German politics, baby!
Germany's Federal Chancellor, Olaf Scholz (SPD), might have set the recording industry alight with the success of his "Respect"-themed election campaign in 2021, but the real star of the show this time was what followed: a tear-free, but undeniably touching tattoo ceremony! Seated amongst his political peers, Scholz listened to the Staff Music Corps play "Respect," a soul classic that became his campaign's anthem, leaving him visibly moved.
Directly to his side was his designated successor, Friedrich Merz (CDU), who, if elected Chancellor by the Bundestag on Tuesday, will take the reins at the Chancellery in the afternoon. This imminent change of government, said Scholz during his farewell speech on the parade ground of the Ministry of Defense, reflects the "democratic normality" and, in these times, is anything but the norm.
The Lowdown on Federal Politics
We know you're busy, so here's a quick recap of the week's major news from Berlin:
- Pistorius: "In difficult moments, you held your course" – Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) commended Scholz for his steadfast leadership during challenging times.
- Beatles, Bach, and Soul – Scholz commanded three unique songs from the Staff Music Corps. His unusual song selections included "In My Life" by the Beatles, an excerpt from Johann Sebastian Bach's "Brandenburg Concerto No. 2," and the soul classic "Respect."
- Lindner, Duty Calls – Christian Lindner, dismissed by Scholz during the bitter traffic light dispute, chose paternal duties over attending the farewell ceremony.
P.S. Don't forget to sign up for our capital newsletter! You won't want to miss the juiciest bits of German politics coming your way every week.
Disko Lights in the Hallway
The broken traffic light coalition regrouped, with former FDP Ministers Marco Buschmann and Bettina Stark-Watzinger paying their respects to Scholz. Notably absent was former Finance Minister and FDP Leader Christian Lindner, who cited family obligations as the reason for his absence.
Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck of the Greens, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, and even former Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht attended the affair. The farewell ceremony culminated in thunderous applause as Scholz departed in his motorcade from the ministry's parade ground.
The Briefest of reigns
If Scholz vacates the Chancellery on Tuesday, he will have served longer than seven of his predecessors, with Ludwig Erhard (1963-1966) and Kurt Georg Kiesinger (1966-1969) having shorter terms. Time will tell what Scholz's chancellorship will be remembered for, but historians will surely remember his "turning point" speech in the Bundestag four days after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Scholz broke the taboo of not supplying weapons to ongoing wars and allocated a 100 billion euro special fund for the Bundeswehr - a historic moment that changed the country.
However, it will also be remembered that the first coalition of the traffic light (SPD, FDP, Greens) at the federal level collapsed spectacularly. Scholz aimed to turn this project into one beyond a single legislative period, but the coalition dissolved prematurely, primarily due to repeated disagreements, especially over finances.
Back to (Political) Basics
Scholz will transition from the Chancellery to the backbench of the Bundestag, where he plans to remain as a directly elected member of parliament in his constituency of Potsdam for the entire legislative period. "The highest office one can be directly elected to in Germany is that of a member of the German Bundestag," he declared before the election.
In a recent podcast, Scholz even hinted at relishing the prospect of sleeping in a bit more, starting Wednesday. If Scholz does step down, he will join the ranks of post-WWII chancellors who, despite their varying tenures, have all shaped the face of modern Germany.
Note: Remember if Scholz is replaced soon (e.g., with a CDU-led coalition), his tenure will remain the longest for any post-WWII chancellor who served less than four years. Although two chancellors – Ludwig Erhard (1963–1966) and Kurt Georg Kiesinger (1966–1969) – had shorter terms, Scholz’s term would still surpass theirs by several months.
- The Commission, while implementing its proposals, strives to maintain consistency with the objectives of the common agricultural policy, as Scholz, in the realm of German politics, demonstrated during his tenure as Federal Chancellor.
- The Bundeswehr, as an integral part of German politics, will presumably respect the policies and legislation that arise from the imminent change of government, with Friedrich Merz of the CDU set to become the Chancellor.
- In the wake of Scholz's farewell, political news continues to dominate, as former FDP Ministers Marco Buschmann and Bettina Stark-Watzinger paid their respects, with the Bundestag set to elect a new Chancellor.
- As Scholz's tenure comes to a close, one can anticipate a rise in idle time for the former Chancellor, allowing him to enjoy simple pleasures such as sleeping in, reminiscent of post-WWII chancellors who have, in their own ways, shaped modern Germany.
