The current appearance of Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), who has to wear a patch over his right eye due to a sports injury, has inspired friendly ridicule from the coalition partners. FDP leader Christian Lindner pointed out on Tuesday at the beginning of his budget speech in the Bundestag that he had also seen “an unusual face in the plenary hall”. “The Chancellor’s field of vision is temporarily limited to the right,” Lindner added – and alluded to the fact that the flap may be hindering the Chancellor’s view of the AfD faction sitting on the right in the hall. “Perhaps he will find democratic consolation in this,” said the finance minister. Scholz himself seems to be taking the situation calmly. “Thanks for the good wishes, looks worse than it is!” he wrote on social media, adding: “Whoever did the damage… Looking forward to the memes.”
Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck (Greens) also commented on the chancellor’s bad luck with injuries – and on his unusual appearance. “I think it looks threatening,” said Habeck on Monday evening at an event organized by Stern about the chancellor’s appearance. At first he thought Scholz’s eye patch photo was a joke: “At first I thought it was a collage and was supposed to be funny.” He then texted the chancellor, said Habeck. “I wished him a speedy recovery, but I didn’t ask what was going on behind the eye patch.” Government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said the Chancellor was doing well given the circumstances. “He was […] in a good mood, but still looks a bit battered.” The photo was published “so everyone can get used to what he looks like in the next week or two.”
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Union faction leader Friedrich Merz wished Chancellor Olaf Scholz a speedy recovery after his accident while jogging. On behalf of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, he also wanted to “wish the Chancellor a good and quick recovery after his sports accident at the weekend,” said Merz, who is also CDU chairman, on Monday before the first meeting of the Union faction after the parliamentary summer break in Berlin . He added: “I have already told him personally, but I would like to say it again from this point: Get well soon.” CSU regional group chief Alexander Dobrindt joined the recovery wishes.
The 65-year-old Scholz fell while jogging at the weekend. After his fall, the Chancellor wears a black eye patch over his right eye because of his facial injuries.
