Angela Merkel Honored with Germany's Top Order of Merit

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel received the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit for special achievement, Germany's highest federal decoration, from President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. While Steinmeier praised Merkel's legacy, some within her own party criticized her approach towards Russia and her policies on energy, migration, and nuclear phase-out. Merkel kept her acceptance speech short, thanking those who supported her during her 16-year tenure. The ceremony had a small audience, including Merkel's successor Olaf Scholz and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, but no one from the current CDU leadership, CSU, or liberal FDP had been invited.