Overview
- He marks the birthday with a CDU/CSU reception of about 300 guests in the Reichstag and a family evening, describing the day as a normal workday.
- Forsa’s RTL/ntv poll (n=1002, Nov. 6–7) finds 74% advise the Union not to nominate him again in 2029, with only 16–18% in favor and Union supporters nearly split 44% to 43%.
- He becomes the first serving German chancellor to reach 70 since Konrad Adenauer and is currently the oldest leader among EU heads of government.
- Coverage highlights a rocky first six months in office, including a failed first Bundestag ballot, a collapsed top court nomination and the contentious “Stadtbild” debate that strained coalition management.
- Guests at the reception include leaders from SPD and the Greens and Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil, while Angela Merkel declined due to a trip to Israel to receive an honorary doctorate.