Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel will today be presented by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier with the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, the highest decoration of the German state.

So far, only two former chancellors, Konrad Adenauer and Helmut Kohl, both Christian Democrats (CDU), have received this award. The German President’s decision, however, is rather controversial, as can be seen from the reaction.

“Angela Merkel was the first woman who had a voice in the fate of our country from above and experienced all the hardships of politics,” said Social Democratic Party (SPD) co-chair Saskia Esken Network (RND).

“For 16 years, many often thought: “Why is she doing this to herself?” She was driven by the deep seriousness and great sense of duty with which she represented our country both at home and abroad, and she thrived through many of the crises of her tenure with a sense of poise,” Esken added, referring to the former’s honesty and sense of humor. Chancellor, who “so rebuffed all attacks, which were often fueled by contempt and hatred for powerful women.”

The SPD leader, who worked with Merkel in her last government, also said she highly appreciated her diplomatic skills, “her wisdom and empathy, the qualities with which she managed to build viable coalitions again and again – qualities invaluable in our turbulent and our full times.” “. crises.”

However, Liberal Secretary General (FDP) Vijan Jir-Saray stated, for his part, also in the RND, that at the end of Merkel’s term, the country was not in good shape, stressing, however, at the same time that “historical greatness in politics can be recognized only after many years.

Greens co-chair Omnid Nuripour told the same network that the former chancellor defined Germany as small and “it is not necessary to agree with all its work to recognize its great merit”, while Die Linke co-chair Martin Sirdevan called the award that Merkel will receive “a relic of the imperial era” and noted that the former chancellor had an ambiguous role that deserves criticism, not praise.

“Merkel has destroyed Germany and left it in ruins,” party vice president Stefan Brandner of the Alternative for Germany told RND.

A few months ago, Wolfgang Schäuble, speaking of “great chancellors”, mentioned only Konrad Adenauer, Willy Brandt and Helmut Kohl, and specifically for Angela Merkel noted that “the list is currently complete and it is still too early for a final assessment”. He even specifically mentioned that “even now with regard to Russia, he cannot admit that we have made mistakes.”

History professor Andreas Renter, in an article in the Tagesspiegel newspaper, expresses another criticism, where he points out that with his decision, Frank-Walter Steinmeier “damages democracy and its authority”, and with the award “he praises not only his former boss, but also the troubled legacy of recent years – and himself.”

The current federal president served as Minister of Foreign Affairs under Merkel and is considered one of the initiators of rapprochement with Russia.

With information from APE-MPE