Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) has decided not to attend the central memorial service for Volkstrauertag in the Bundestag this year. The reasons were initially unclear. An empty seat remained in the front row of honored guests on Sunday afternoon, likely Chancellor’s. Present were Constitutional Court President Stephan Harbarth, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Bundestag President Julia Klöckner (CDU), Federal Council President Hendrik Wüst (CDU), and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD). Additionally, Austria’s President Alexander Van der Bellen was there, who will give the memorial speech this year. Volkstrauertag is a state memorial day in Germany and belongs to the so-called silent days. It has been observed since 1952 two Sundays before the first Advent Sunday and is meant to commemorate the victims of violence and war of all nations.
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