German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been seen shaking in public for the third time in less than a month, raising further concerns over her health.
Merkel, 64, trembled as she stood next to Finnish Prime Minister Antti Rinne during an appearance in Berlin on Wednesday.
Afterwards Merkel said she was “fine,” adding that she has been “working through some things” since she was first seen shaking during a June 18 ceremony with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“I am working through some things since the military honors with President Zelensky which do not seem to be over yet, but there is progress and I have to live with it for a while,” Merkel revealed. “But I am very well and one does not have to worry.”
A spokesman for the German government told CNN that discussions with Rinne were “going ahead as planned.”
This latest incident comes after Merkel was seen shaking for a second time on June 27 when she attended an event with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. There she appeared to clutch her arms together to keep herself still. Merkel originally blamed the first incident during her meeting with Zelensky on dehydration.
Tremors can be caused by a number of conditions, ranging from neurological disorders to less serious issues such as medicinal side effects, stress or caffeine consumption.
Merkel has been German Chancellor since 2005 and is approaching the end of her lengthy tenure.
She will not seek reelection when her current term ends in 2021, she announced last year, telling reporters the position had been a “very challenging and fulfilling task.”
Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer — who is widely seen as Merkel’s protege — waselected as leader of the Christian Democratic Union party last year and will likely lead it into the 2021 federal elections.
