Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) received Germany’s highest honor. On April 17, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will present him with the Special Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Information about the upcoming ceremony on April 17 was originally published by Stern magazine and later confirmed by a representative from the office of the President of Germany. So far, only two people have received the highest honor of the Federal Republic of Germany – former German chancellors Konrad Adenauer (in 1954) and Helmut Kohl (in 1998), both – the CDU.
According to Stern, Merkel’s husband, Joachim Sauer, as well as other members of his family, many of the ex-Chancellor’s political associates, will be present at the awards ceremony. Among others, invitations have also been received by the former heads of the Chancellery Thomas de Maizières, Ronald Pofalla, Peter Altmaier and Helge Braun (all CDU).
According to the magazine, the guest list includes SPD First Vice-Chancellor Franz Müntefering, government spokesman Merkel Steffen Seibert and his closest aides Beate Baumann and Eva Christiansen.
It should be noted that no representative of the current leadership of the CDU, CSU and FDP was invited, writes the magazine. At the same time, the list included former GDR civil rights activist Rainer Eppelmann, actor Ulrich Matthes and former German national soccer team coach Jurgen Klinsman.
The award ceremony for Angela Merkel, who served as chancellor for 16 years from 2005 to 2021, will take place at Bellevue Palace, the official residence of the German president.
