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Former Chancellor Angela Merkel and Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder: "5860 days, so it was written down to me, to have survived and lived through this alone, is already an achievement"

Photo: Sven Hoppe / dpa

Angela Merkel was German Chancellor for 16 years. The interaction between the CDU and its sister party, the CSU, did not always run smoothly during this time, and in the meantime there was even an end to the parliamentary group in the Bundestag.

Now the Merkel era is the most recent history of the Federal Republic, the relationship with Bavaria is more relaxed – and characterized by more appreciation: Prime Minister and CSU leader Markus Söder has awarded the former Chancellor with the Bavarian Order of Merit.

"If you are 16 years Chancellor, 5860 days, you have written it down to me, to have survived and lived through that alone, is already an achievement," said Söder at the award ceremony in the Munich residence. It is the respect for a great life's work. "You have led us (...) through the most serious crises, crises that have not foreseeably shaken our country deeply in the dimension."

"It is a great honour for me, and yes, perhaps I was not born with you, Markus Söder, to award me the Bavarian distribution location in this festive setting," said Angela Merkel in her acceptance speech.

"And maybe not everything is 100 percent perfect..."

Merkel had proven during her term of office that she had the courage and the compass to make difficult decisions, said Söder. This was the case with the financial crisis as well as with the phase-out of nuclear power and later with the migration crisis. "And even if not everything is 100 percent perfect, some decisions can be made by 60 to 40 or 51 to 49 percent."

In the Corona crisis, Merkel had always been on duty, especially for Bavaria, which was particularly affected, and thus helped to save lives, said Söder, who personally thanked Merkel for her advice during this time. Bavaria in particular has benefited particularly from Merkel's time in office. "For me, it's just about saying thank you."

The Order of Merit has been awarded since 1957 "as a sign of honourable and grateful recognition for outstanding services to the Free State of Bavaria and the Bavarian people. The number of living recipients of the Order is limited to 2000. They include TV presenter Barbara Schöneberger, actor Christian Tramitz, triathlete Anne Haug and national football coach Hansi Flick.

It is still unclear who will succeed Merkel's political legacy in the CDU/CSU. Armin Laschet failed as a candidate for chancellor in the last Bundestag election; CDU leader Friedrich Merz, NRW Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst and possibly Söder are said to have ambitions for 2025, even if the latter are currently still holding back. Merkel's award could be interpreted as a signal that she wants to follow in her political footsteps. In this respect, Söder has now caught up: In May, Wüst had honored her with the NRW State Prize.

mrc/dpa