A large number of guests from state and federal politics came to Biebrich Castle on Monday evening to bid farewell to the long-serving Prime Minister of Hesse, Volker Bouffier (CDU).
At the end of his political career, the 70-year-old was honored with musical honors by the Bundeswehr at the big ceremony.
More than 600 guests, including political companions and friends as well as representatives of the churches, the media, business, sport and society, were expected on the day before he left the office of the Hessian head of government.
The former Head of the Chancellery Helge Braun, the former Minister of Defense Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer and the former Prime Minister of Hesse Roland Koch (CDU) came to Biebrich Castle.
The guest list also included former Federal President Christian Wulff and the heads of government from Rhineland-Palatinate, North Rhine-Westphalia and Thuringia, Malu Dreyer (SPD), Hendrik Wüst (CDU) and Bodo Ramelow (Left).
Three pieces of music selected by Bouffier
The Heeresmusikkorps Kassel will sing the musical tribute at the farewell.
Bouffier asked for three pieces: the song "The Thoughts Are Free", "One Moment in Time" by Whitney Houston and "My Way" by Frank Sinatra.
In addition, two medleys with songs that stand for Hesse and German unity, as well as two marches, are played.
Bouffier officially resigns from the office of head of government the day after the celebratory serenade in the Hessian state parliament.
The incumbent President of the State Parliament, Boris Rhein (CDU), is to be elected as his successor on Tuesday.
Bouffier is Germany's longest-serving head of government, having served in office for almost twelve years.
The serenade as a musical tribute is given to prime ministers if they have been in office for ten years or more.