Merkel Says Shaky Spell Was Due to Lack of Water
Merkel Says She's Feeling Fine After Brief Shaky Spell
(Bloomberg) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that the momentary shaking she experienced during a ceremony with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was a result of not drinking enough water.
“I’m doing very well,” she told reporters after the incident during a press conference in Berlin. “I drank at least three glasses of water. That was apparently needed.”
Standing in the afternoon sun next to the Ukrainian president, the 64-year-old German leader was clearly struggling to maintain her composure. With Berlin temperatures at 29 degrees Celsius (84 degrees Fahrenheit), Merkel’s body was trembling and her lips were pursed.
Back in 2014, she felt unwell and interrupted a taped interview with public broadcaster ZDF. She had something to eat and drink and then continued. She rebounded the next day to give a 70-minute speech at a convention of her Christian Democratic party.
Later, on a trip to Mexico, she also had a moment of fatigue that passed after drinking water.
Last year, Merkel gave up her role as CDU leader and plans to leave politics after her term as chancellor ends with the next national elections, which are slated for 2021.
To contact the reporter on this story: Arne Delfs in Meseberg at adelfs@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Chad Thomas at cthomas16@bloomberg.net, Chris Reiter, Raymond Colitt
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