Change of government: “Respect” to say goodbye: Zapfenstreich for Scholz

After three years and almost five months in office, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) was adopted by the Bundeswehr with a large tap. The tears did not come to the Chancellor that was not particularly emotionally known when the staff music corps played the “Respect” soul classic for him to say goodbye. But he was already moving – and had to smile a bit at the end.

In addition to his wife Britta Ernst and most ministers of his cabinet, his designated successor Friedrich Merz also sat in the stands with Ms. Charlotte. If the CDU leader is elected to Chancellor on Tuesday, the handover of the office will take place in the afternoon in the Chancellery. Then the ninth head of government of the Federal Republic of Germany is history.

Scholz warns cohesion under Democrats

In his farewell speech on the paradise of the Ministry of Defense, Scholz praised the impending change of government as a “expression of democratic normality”. In these times it is “by no means normal that such a change is so civilized, as collegial and as decently, as we experience here in Germany these days,” said the SPD politician.

This civilian dealings among democrats have to be protected and preserved. “Because it is precious,” said Scholz. The basic understanding is needed that “Germany then – and only – is strong when we hold it together”.

Pistorius: “In difficult moments you held course”

Scholz wished his designated successor Merz for all tasks and challenges “good luck, Fortense and a happy hand”. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) paid tribute to the outgoing chancellor as a “statesman”, who led Germany with determination, prudence and prudence through stormy times. “You held course at difficult moments,” said Pistorius, who is the only Federal Minister of the Scholz government to be a new cabinet under Merz

Beatles, Bach and Soul from the staff music corps

The Zapfenstreich is a military ceremony after sunset in a torchlight, with which all Chancellor, Federal President, Minister of Defense and High -Rank Military are traditionally adopted. The honored three music requests are allowed to express. Scholz had opted for “In My Life” by the Beatles, an excerpt from the “2nd Brandenburg concert” by Johann Sebastian Bach and the soul classic “Respect”, which became a world hit in the version of Aretha Franklin. Respect was the central catchphrase of Scholz ‘successful Bundestag election campaign 2021, after which he became a chancellor.

For Lindner, paternal duties are proceeding

The broken traffic light coalition came together again in the stands – at least partially. The former FDP Minister Marco Buschmann and Bettina Stark-Watzinger showed Scholz the honor. The former finance minister and FDP boss Christian Lindner, whom Scholz had released over the household in the fierce traffic light dispute, remained away from the farewell ceremony. “My absence has no political background. This evening, paternal duties are going on this evening,” he wrote on X on the grounds.

Vice -Chancellor Robert Habeck, on the other hand, was there as well as Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. Even the former Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht, who had submitted her resignation at Scholz after massive criticism, returned to her old place of work. As a farewell, there was long applause for Scholz before driving his wagon column from the paradise of the ministry.

Only Erhard and Kiesinger were shorter in office

When Scholz left Tuesday, Ludwig Erhard (1963 to 1966) and Kurt Georg Kiesinger (1966 BI 1969) were only two out of eight predecessors in office than him. What remains of his chancellorship will clarify the historians among themselves after his farewell. In the long term, you will definitely remember your time turning speech in the Bundestag four days after the Russian invasion in Ukraine. At that time, Scholz broke up with the taboo not to deliver weapons into current wars and set up a 100 billion heavy special fund for the Bundeswehr – a historical moment that has changed the country.

However, it will also remain that the experiment of the first traffic light coalition at the federal level from the SPD, FDP and the Greens failed. Scholz wanted to make a project for more than one legislative period. However, the traffic light broke up before it turned three – on endless arguments above all over finances.

From the Chancellery to the back seat

Scholz will now switch from the Bundestag from the Chancellery and wants to remain the whole legislative period as a directly elected MP in his constituency Potsdam. “The highest office in which one can be elected directly in Germany is that of the MP in the German Bundestag,” he said as a reason before the election.

But he is also looking forward to a little more free time. “I would like to sleep in more often,” he once revealed in a “time” podcast. There is time for it from Wednesday.