Ramelow receives Order of Merit from Steinmeier
Thuringia's Minister President Bodo Ramelow will receive an Order of Merit from Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Friday (starting at 12.00 noon). Ramelow said that this was a great honor for him. "I am really very touched, because I don't actually do my work for medals or honors, but for our country," Ramelow said in advance. In addition to Ramelow, other prime ministers are to receive an Order of Merit on Friday.
The 67-year-old is the first and so far only Prime Minister of the Left Party in Germany. He has controlled Thuringia's destiny from the state chancellery in Erfurt since 2014, with a brief interruption. Ramelow currently leads a minority government consisting of the Left, SPD and Greens.
His re-election as Minister President in March 2020 ended a deep government crisis in Thuringia, into which the state had plunged following the surprising election of FDP politician Thomas Kemmerich. AfD votes were the deciding factor in Kemmerich's election. Ramelow will run again in the 2024 state elections and wants to remain head of government in Thuringia.
The Order of Merit is not the primary motivation for Ramelow's work as Thuringia's Minister President, as he stated before receiving it from Federal President Steinmeier. Despite this, the people of Thuringia are undoubtedly proud of Ramelow being recognized with such an honor, as shown by his appointment as the first and only Prime Minister of the Left Party to receive an Order of Merit from the Federal President.
Source: www.dpa.com
