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WORLD NEWS Thursday 11 July 2019

German leader Merkel seen shaking for 3rd time in a month

By GEIR MOULSON asked at Wednesday’s
Associated Press news conference wheth-
BERLIN (AP) — Ger- er, given recent concern
man Chancellor Angela about her health, she
Merkel’s body shook vis- should now take a more
ibly at a public event for head-on approach to the
the third time in less than a issue.
month on Wednesday, but “My comments on this are
the longtime leader insisted done today, and I think my
that there’s nothing to wor- statement that I am fine
ry about. can find acceptance,” she
Merkel shook as she stood said. “I said that I have to
at a military honors cer- process this event and that
emony alongside Finnish I am in this process, and I
Prime Minister Antti Rinne think that just as it came, it
outside the chancellery in will go away one day.”
Berlin, listening to the two “I am very firmly convinced
countries’ national an- that I am entirely capable
thems. of performing,” she added.
It followed similar episodes A spokeswoman for Merkel,
on June 18 and June 27. As Ulrike Demmer, declined
in both those cases, the in- to comment on whether
cident started as she stood there had been any other
still without talking, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Prime Minister of Finland Antti Rinne listen to the national shaking episodes beyond
the 64-year-old recovered anthems at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, July 10, 2019. the three publicly known
quickly as she started walk- Associated Press ones.
ing. on the swearing-in of a new ing the last military honors publicly known if Merkel Merkel said last year that
The first incident happened justice minister. Tempera- with President Zelenskiy. has any health problems. she won’t seek a fifth term
in near-identical circum- tures were much cooler That is clearly not entire- The chancellor has a repu- as chancellor and won’t
stances as she stood along- that day, as they were on ly complete, but there is tation for stamina garnered seek any other political job
side Ukrainian President Wednesday. progress.” in years of late-night do- after her current term ends
Volodymyr Zelenskiy at a Merkel, who has been Ger- “I will have to live with it mestic and European ne- in 2021.
military honors ceremony. man leader since 2005, for a while now, but I am gotiating marathons. She She gave up the leadership
The weather that day was turns 65 on July 17. She sug- very well and people don’t has rarely had to cut back of her center-right party
hot, and Merkel said after- gested that the psycho- have to be worried,” she her work schedule signifi- after a pair of poor state
ward that she was fine af- logical impact of the first added. cantly, though she did so election performances
ter drinking three glasses of incident was responsible for Public figures’ health is for a few weeks in 2014 that followed a rocky start
water. the subsequent episodes. generally regarded as a when she cracked her pel- to her fourth-term govern-
The second incident hap- “I am fine,” she told report- private matter in Germany vis while cross-country ski- ment. She has shown no
pened at the German ers after her meeting with and the country’s privacy ing in Switzerland during a sign since of wanting to
president’s palace as she Rinne. “I said recently that laws are very strict on that winter vacation. give up the chancellorship
listened to his comments I am in a phase of process- type of information. It is not Merkel demurred when before her term is up.q

EU political groups won’t back

nominee before vote

By RAF CASERT grilled by EU legislators from place Jean-Claude Junck-
Associated Press the socialist, green and er. While she is expected
BRUSSELS (AP) — The nomi- free-market liberal groups to be backed by the major
nee for president of the Eu- in the EU parliament, which political groups in the Eu-
ropean Union’s executive expects to vote on whether ropean Parliament, there
arm said Wednesday she to confirm her as European has been stinging criticism
would put respect for the Commission president next of the way she was put for-
rule of law and a progres- week. ward as a candidate.
sive climate policy at the Von der Leyen was the sur- “I know it was a bumpy start
heart of her program if she prise last-minute compro- we had together,” von der German Defense Minister and candidate for European
is approved for the position. mise candidate nominated Leyen told legislators from Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, center, is escorted
by security guards and her assistants between meetings at the
German Defense Minister by the leaders of EU mem- the Renew Europe liberal European Parliament in Brussels, Wednesday, July 10, 2019.
Ursula von der Leyen was ber nations last week to re- group on Wednesday.q Associated Press