Volker Wissing Reveals the Story Behind Iconic 2021 Ampel Coalition Selfie

The former Verkehrsminister disclosed that the carefully crafted image, symbolizing a new political culture, took eight attempts to perfect.

The selfie, taken during early coalition talks in September 2021, symbolized a breakthrough in political alliances between the FDP and the Greens.
Volker Wissing, who took the photo, revealed it required eight attempts to achieve the desired 'cool' and optimistic look.
Initial efforts to have someone else take the photo failed, leading Wissing to take the selfie himself with Annalena Baerbock, Robert Habeck, and Christian Lindner.
The image was deliberately crafted to convey a message of transformation and unity, reflecting the coalition's vision of a new political culture.
Now regarded as a 'Zeitdokument,' the selfie has become a historical artifact representing the aesthetics and spirit of the political moment.