Overview

• Pellmann recounted chest pressure at a hotel after North Rhine-Westphalia meetings, a smartwatch pulse of 159, rapid ICU admission, and stent placement via catheter.
• He has resumed parliamentary duties in October after more exercise and healthier eating, reporting a 22-kilogram weight loss.
• Calling illness a taboo in political life, he urged frank discussion of stress, mental and physical health, and dependency issues.
• He described session weeks with 10 to 12 appointments daily, no real breaks, and constant digital reachability that heightens strain.
• He said he weighed the political risk of disclosure but largely received support, with recent health-related retreats by figures like Kevin Kühnert and Michael Roth providing context.