Health Fears After Angela Merkel Seen Uncontrollably Shaking For Second Time In Weeks
AAP
2019-06-27T21:56:20+00:00
German Chancellor Angela Merkel experienced a second public bout of severe shaking, nine days after she was seen having similar problems and just hours before she was due to leave for the G20 summit in Osaka.
The shaking occurred at a ceremony in Berlin on Thursday at the official residence of President Frank-Walter Steinmeier during the appointment of Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht. Merkel shook for around two minutes, folding her arms to steady herself.
Once the chancellor began moving again, her condition improved visibly. She refused the offer of a glass of water.
On June 18, Merkel was seen to shake as she stood alongside the new Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during his visit to Germany. She said later that she had failed to drink enough during the hot weather at the time.
READ MORE: Video Captured Angela Merkel Shaking Uncontrollably
The Berlin weather on Thursday was relatively cool following a period of intense heat.
Her trip to Osaka started later on Thursday as planned.
The 64-year-old chancellor, who has held office since 2005, has a busy schedule ahead of her. She has to be back in Brussels by Sunday evening following the weekend G20 summit in Japan for a special EU summit on appointing new top jobs after the bloc's elections.
Doctors have been reluctant to speculate on Merkel's health. In the past, she has been commended for her physical resilience and stamina while working a job that involves long hours and frequent long-haul trips.
Another government spokesman refused to comment on any medical treatment that she may be receiving. However, he did say that a Foreign Office doctor accompanies Merkel's delegation "during larger foreign trips".
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High-ranking German politicians do not have their own personal doctors, such as the US president has, for example. In principle, Merkel would receive treatment from the same physicians that treat the general public.
