German Chancellor Angela Merkel is in our country on Friday. From the hands of King Philippe she received a great ribbon in the Order of Leopold.
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In the afternoon, there will be a meeting with Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, a concert in Bozar and dinner in the evening. It is probably one of Merkel’s last visits to Belgium as German Chancellor – another European summit will follow next week in Brussels.
Merkel was festively received on Friday afternoon at the royal palace in Laeken, where she received the grand ribbon in the Order of Leopold – the highest possible award in our country – from King Philippe.
Military honor
Merkel then goes to the Egmont Palace: there she is first received ‘with military honour’, followed by consultations with Prime Minister Alexander De Croo in the run-up to next week’s European summit, followed by a joint press conference.
In the late afternoon, Merkel and the Prime Minister attend a concert in the Center for Fine Arts Bozar, provided by composer and conductor Dirk Brossé. Together with the chamber orchestra Prima La Musica he performs compositions by Mozart, Beethoven, Brossé and Toots Thielemans, ‘music that symbolizes freedom, connection and gratitude.’ De Croo and Merkel conclude the visit with an informal dinner in a small circle.
Important role
With the official reception, our prime minister wants to “mark the important role Merkel has played over the past 16 years.” The 67-year-old Chancellor has been at the helm of successive German governments for the past 16 years. As soon as a new majority is found in parliament, she will withdraw from politics.
It looks like her party CDU will not be part of that next coalition. After all, the Socialists, Greens and Liberals have announced that they will start government negotiations.
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