China News Service, September 15 According to foreign media reports, Germany will hold a general election on September 26, and the current Chancellor Merkel will not seek re-election.

What will Merkel do after her 16-year career as German Chancellor ends?

Data map: German Chancellor Merkel.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Peng Dawei

  [General Election Day "is not over"]

  For Merkel, September 26 may not mean the end of the prime minister's duties. She will continue to serve as the caretaker prime minister until the new government is established.

Recently, she emphasized, "I will continue to serve until the last day."

  For decades, the German Federal Chancellor and the new cabinet have generally been sworn in within 5 to 6 weeks after voting in general elections.

However, in 2017, the new coalition government was released five and a half months after the general election.

  Therefore, it is entirely possible that Merkel will surpass Helmut Kohl to become the longest-serving head of government of the Federal Republic of Germany.

The total number of days of Cole's tenure is 5870 days.

To break this record, Merkel must hold office until December 17, 2021.

Data map: On March 14, local time, passers-by passed the campaign advertisements of various political parties on the streets of Mainz, the capital of the German state of Lefah.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Peng Dawei

  [Let’s rest for a while?

  In July of this year, during a visit to Washington, Merkel was asked about her plans for retirement.

So far, on other occasions, she has avoided talking about it.

However, this time she said that she wanted to take a break first, and would not accept any invitations.

  She said that she must be aware that her previous task "is now being taken over by someone else."

Immediately afterwards, she added: "I think this will make me like it very much."

  Merkel said that in the free time she regained, she would think about what she was really interested in.

In the past 16 years, she has almost no time to think about it.

Merkel said: "At that time, I would try to read something, and at the end, my eyes would close, because I was tired, then I would sleep for a while, and then, look at where I would appear."

Data map: German Chancellor Merkel.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Peng Dawei

  [Do not rule out starting a second career]

  Can a person who has managed everything for decades and has shouldered great responsibilities can relax completely overnight?

Recently, Merkel said in Berlin, “Once you no longer have it, you will feel a sense of loss.” In fact, many of Merkel's predecessors have sought new careers after leaving office.

  Since 1982, Helmut Schmidt has been the publisher of "Times Weekly".

Cole founded a political and strategic consulting company as a lobbyist and consultant, earning a lot of money.

Gerhard Schroeder joined the North Stream Pipeline Company, which caused him a lot of trouble.

  According to the law, former government employees must strictly observe confidentiality.

However, even if they are not allowed to express their opinions at will, they are very popular in the economic world because of their extensive political contacts.

  At the same time, the law stipulates that former government members must ask the Prime Minister's Office for instructions before changing careers to confirm whether their future jobs will "have an adverse effect on the public interest."

An ethics committee provides consultation to the government.

If in doubt, the government can force the waiting period to be extended to 18 months.

Data map: German Chancellor Merkel.

  [Retirement is guaranteed]

  Will Merkel seek a new career or an honorary position?

In this regard, she has not made any statement so far.

However, she said that she has too many things to deal with at present, "There is almost no time or space to consider the time from now on, but such time will come."

  At least, she might stay in Berlin temporarily.

Her husband, a 72-year-old professor at Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany, has retired, but has extended his contract as a senior researcher until 2022.

  But financially, Merkel does not need to worry.

As the Federal Chancellor, she earns 25,000 Euros a month.

In addition, as a member of the Bundestag, she is entitled to an income of slightly more than 10,000 euros.

After leaving office, Merkel will be able to continue to receive three months of salary, and then receive half of the original salary as a transition allowance for a maximum of 21 months.

  As for the subsequent pension, her various pension rights as prime minister, minister and federal member will be calculated together.

After at least 4 years in office, the German Federal Chancellor is entitled to 27.74% of the original salary.

For each additional year of tenure, the rights increase by 2.39167%, with a maximum of 71.75%.

  In this way, Merkel's future monthly pension is about 15,000 euros.

She will also be entitled to personal protection and a public car with a driver until the end of her life.

An office will also be reserved for her in the Bundestag, with a director, two secretaries and a writer.