Former Chancellor Angela Merkel missed the announcement of Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz’s re-election at the party convention in Stuttgart. Merkel departed shortly after 6:00 PM, reportedly to catch the last direct train to Berlin, but sent Merz a congratulatory text message.
Merkel’s Departure Follows Delays
Merkel had initially planned to remain for the announcement of the election results. The vote was originally scheduled for 3:15 PM, but faced significant delays. Merkel’s departure came after the Chancellor’s speech ran over its planned length by more than 70 minutes, and voting ultimately required paper ballots due to a failure of the electronic system.
This is not the first time Merkel has missed the announcement of a significant election result involving Merz. On May 6th, she was present for the Chancellor election in the Bundestag, but did not return for the second round of voting after Merz unexpectedly failed to secure enough votes in the first round.
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the delay in announcing the election results?
The announcement was delayed due to the Chancellor’s speech exceeding its planned length, and a subsequent failure of the electronic voting system, which necessitated a manual count of the paper ballots.
Where was Angela Merkel headed when she left the CDU convention?
Angela Merkel departed for Berlin, reportedly to catch the last direct train.
Has Merkel missed previous announcements of Merz’s election results?
Yes, Merkel was present for the first round of the Chancellor election on May 6th, but did not return for the second round after Merz’s initial failure to secure enough votes.
What does this pattern of departures suggest about the relationship between Merkel and the current CDU leadership?
