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Merkel dismisses concern over third shaking fit

Angela Merkel with Finnish Prime Minister Antti Rinne in Berlin.

Angela Merkel with Finnish Prime Minister Antti Rinne in Berlin. Photo: Getty

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has dismissed fears over her third shaking fit in just over three weeks, insisting that she is “very much capable” of carrying out her duties.

“There is no need for concern,” Merkel said, adding that she was “completely convinced” she is “very much capable”.

Merkel attributed the episode to the aftermath of a similar attack she suffered last month at a reception for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, describing the latest fit as forming part of the “processing phase”.

She had blamed the previous shaking fit on being dehydrated on a very hot day and said she was fine after drinking three glasses of water.

Only nine days later she had another shaking fit when Germany’s new Minister of Justice Christine Lambrecht was being appointed at Berlin’s Bellevue Palace.

“It’s obviously not quite finished yet, but there is progress,” Merkel said at a press conference with Finnish Prime Minister Antti Rinne in Berlin on Wednesday.

Pressed on whether the public had a right to know how she was doing after the third incident within a few weeks, Merkel was guarded in her response.

“I believe that my remarks about it have been made for today. And I think that my statement that I am well will find acceptance,” she said.

Merkel also said she is still “processing” the earlier event.

“And I believe that, as it happened, it will one day pass. But I am not there yet,” the chancellor said, without explaining what she meant by being in a “processing phase”.

Merkel suffered Wednesday’s shaking fit during an outdoor reception with military honours for Rinne on a relatively mild July day.

Eyewitnesses reported that the chancellor trembled for a long time during the playing of the national anthems.

This time, however, the fit was not quite as strong as in previous cases.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel listens to the German national anthem as she stands on a hot day with new Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Doctors have been reluctant to speculate on Merkel’s health, which is considered a private matter, even for the country’s leaders.

A spokeswoman for Ms Merkel, Ulrike Demmer, declined to comment on whether there had been any other shaking episodes beyond the three publicly known ones.

Ms Merkel has previously been complimented on her stamina while fulfilling duties associated with a job that calls for long hours and frequent long-haul trips.

 

 

 

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