On Wednesday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel was uncontrollably shaking in Finland while standing next to Finnish Prime Minister Antti Rinne.
In videos of the event, she had problems keeping her arms and legs still, while she repeatedly attempted to clasp her hands to stop the vicious shaking.
This is the third time in less than a month that the German chancellor, who is 64 years old and soon to be 65 next week, has appeared in public violently trembling.
On June 27, Angela Merkel was seen violently shaking as she was standing next to German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier during the departure ceremony for her justice minister. She had to restrain herself by clutching her arms together to keep herself still.
Afterward, government officials stated, “The chancellor is doing well; all of her appointments will be kept as planned.”
On June 18, Chancellor Merkel also desperately attempted to stop herself from shaking for at least a minute as she stood next to the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
Like yesterday, she repeatedly attempted to clasp her hands in an attempt to futilely stop her shaking.
She claimed that this first incident was due to dehydration, noting that she felt “much better” after drinking “three glasses of water.”
On Wednesday, Chancellor Merkel cited that the psychological impact of the first incident was responsible for her trembling for the third time.
She clarified, “I said recently that I am in a phase of processing the last military honors with President Zelenskiy. That is clearly not entirely complete, but there is progress.”
“I will have to live with it for a while now, but I am very well and people don’t have to be worried,” she added.
Merkel has been chancellor for nearly 14 years now and is known for her stamina and work ethic. She has rarely cut back on her work schedule significantly, except once when she cracked her pelvis while cross-country skiing.
Because the health of public figures in Germany is regarded as a private matter, the country has very strict laws on the release of their health information. Thus, it is not publicly known whether Chancellor Merkel has any serious health problems.
Violent tremors can be caused by a number of conditions, ranging from neurological problems to stress or caffeine consumption. For now, Parkinson’s has been ruled out by some doctors who have observed her conditions.
Nevertheless, leading Bavarian GP Jakob Berger stated that the chancellor should undergo urgent health checks: “Her doctors must now press for some research.”
These continuing series of violent and uncontrollable shaking incidents will no doubt continue to sow doubts as to whether Chancellor Merkel actually remains in good health.
Refusing to seek a fifth term as chancellor, she is expected to exit public life after her current term ends in 2021.
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