Saying Her Final Goodbye: Elke Büdenbender, the First Lady of Germany, Steps Down
Wife of the German President, legal advisor, printer, and the President himself announce their retirements. - President's wife and legal advisor Büdenbender announces her retirement.
Elke Büdenbender, wife of Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, has announced her retirement from her role as a judge at the Administrative Court in Berlin, effective at the end of the month.
Büdenbender, who resumed part-time work at the court in 2022 after serving as a judge during her husband's first term was suspended, expressed her enthusiasm for the judicial profession. "It's been a thrilling, sometimes challenging journey, and I've enjoyed every moment of it throughout my career," she said.
Her retirement doesn't mean an end to her public service. In the remaining years of Steinmeier's second term, Büdenbender plans to be her husband's right-hand woman at Bellevue, continuing her duties as the First Lady. She will also continue her patronage roles, such as for UNICEF, the German Children and Youth Foundation, and the Mothers' Relief Organization, and education will remain a central focus for her.
Büdenbender's life has been a remarkable journey, including living with a donated kidney from her husband since 2010. During the COVID-19 pandemic, both she and her husband were at risk, but Büdenbender, with her chronic illness, can retire at 63 without deductions.
While Büdenbender's future plans beyond her retirement from the Administrative Court are not extensively covered, it's common for former judges and First Ladies to remain involved in public life through various roles or charitable activities. In addition to her official duties, Büdenbender has already been involved in initiatives such as Lern-Fair e.V., which focuses on educational equality for children.
In her downtime, Büdenbender has also attended events like the Ehrentag im Schloss Bellevue, where she celebrated engagement and recognition of volunteering efforts, and visited the Leo Baeck Institute Jerusalem as part of her official duties.
As a first lady, Büdenbender embodies grace and perseverance, combining her role as a judge with her dedication to philanthropy and education. Her retirement marks a new chapter, but her contribution to Germany and its people will undoubtedly continue.
Elke Büdenbender: A Brief Overview
Elke Büdenbender is a German jurist and the current First Lady of Germany as the wife of President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Beyond her role as First Lady, she worked as a judge at the Administrative Court in Berlin. Recently, she has been supporting initiatives like Lern-Fair e.V., which focuses on educational equality for children.
Footnotes
[1] Official visit to the Leo Baeck Institute Jerusalem: https://www.bundespraesident.de/de/ terminplan/wie-unser-bundesprasident-sie-bekannt-mi-1740046
[3] Participation in Ehrentag im Schloss Bellevue and Lern-Fair e.V.: https://www.bundespraesident.de/de/termine/ehrentag-im-schloss-bellevue-3734380 https://www.bundespraesident.de/de/topic/lern-fair-foundation-2059273
Every day, Elke Büdenbender, the First Lady of Germany, will continue to serve her husband, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, in various public roles and charitable activities, demonstrating her commitment to the nation even after retiring as a judge from the Administrative Court in Berlin.
In the realm of politics and general news, Büdenbender's future plans, beyond her retirement from the court, are not yet extensively detailed. However, it's common for former judges and First Ladies to remain involved in public life through diverse roles or philanthropic endeavors.
