German military honors outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel with punk rock sendoff

Germany’s military honored Chancellor Angela Merkel with their highest ceremony for a civilian on December 2, complete with an eclectic mix of music personally selected by the outgoing leader and punctuated by an emotional speech, Report informs referring to CNN.

During the "Großer Zapfenstreich," or the Grand Tattoo ceremony -- which was pared back due to the Covid-19 pandemic -- members of the armed forces played a 1960s song that includes the words "I can't acquiesce, can't make do, I still want to win," and the song "You Forgot The Color Film," which was first performed by East German punk artist Nina Hagen, Reuters reported.

Merkel is due to officially step down next week after 16 years in office. She will be succeeded by Social Democrat Olaf Scholz, who is expected to be sworn in as chancellor after lawmakers give him the final green light.

Merkel, 67, grew up under Communism in East Germany, and trained as a scientist, earning a doctorate in quantum chemistry before making a move into politics following the fall of the Berlin Wall. She won a seat in the Bundestag, Germany's parliament, in the first election after reunification.

She has navigated Germany and Europe through multiple crises over her tenure and has been hailed as a champion of liberal values and a stalwart of democratic values by supporters.

But while Merkel is seen as a bold and accomplished crisis manager, critics say she risked alienating the conservative voter base of her own party, the CDU, by taking left-of-center positions on key topics including nuclear energy, foreign policy and immigration.