Is Angela Merkel unwell?

German chancellor’s repeat bouts of shaking
spark speculation about health as she heads to G20 summit

In Depth

On Thursday, Merkel was filmed “gripping her arms as her body
was shaking” while attending an event with German President
Frank-Walter Steinmeier, CNN reports. At one point, she was offered
a glass of water, which she rejected, before the shaking subsided
after several minutes.

The Daily Telegraph notes that the German
leader experienced a similar incident eight days earlier, when she
was caught on film “desperately trying to maintain composure as she
shook from head to foot” at a reception for Ukrainian
President Volodymyr Zelensky in Berlin. 

Merkel later blamed the shakes on dehydration from standing in
the hot sun throughout the ceremony. No explanation has been given
for the more recent incident.

However, her spokesperson told CNN last night that the
chancellor was “fine” and that she was en route to Japan for the
G20 summit in Osaka. “Everything is taking place as planned. The
chancellor is well,” the spokesperson added.

All the same, German media has noted that the chancellor is
“always accompanied on major international trips by a doctor”,
says The Local.

Some sources have speculated that she may be suffering from
Parkinson’s disease, a condition that usually causes uncontrollable
tremors. However, the BBC reports that “leading Bavarian GP” Jakob Berger
has cast doubt on that theory, saying her trembling had been more
pronounced than is typical with Parkinson’s.

“If she were my patient, I would definitely clarify the symptoms
before the trip (to Japan),” he added, suggesting the
chancellor would “need to be checked out as soon as possible”.

Fellow specialist Dr Christoph Specht argues that the chancellor
may have contracted an infection, as “shivering indicated an
infection that was flaring up again”, the broadcaster adds.

However, other medical experts say the shaking may be connected
to an emotional trigger.

 The Times’ medical correspondent, Dr Mark
Porter, points to “essential tremor”, a neurological
disorder. 

“Essential tremor often starts in the arms and may be
intermittent at first, typically gradually spreading to other parts
of the body including the head and tongue,” Porter writes.

“The shaking is generally aggravated by stress, embarrassment,
anger, fatigue and hunger, and relieved by sleep and alcohol.”

This would not be the first time that Merkel has suffered health
issues.  

The chancellor experienced a similar onset
of trembling in 2017
while in Mexico
City for a state visit. And in 2014,
Merkel postponed a television interview at the last minute amid
reports that she was feeling weak and faint.