Wiesbaden (dpa/lhe) - With musical honors, the Bundeswehr will bid farewell to the outgoing Hessian Prime Minister Volker Bouffier (CDU) next Monday (May 30) from office. More than 600 guests were invited to the festive serenade in Biebrich Castle, the State Chancellery announced on Wednesday in Wiesbaden.
The Heeresmusikkorps Kassel will sing a musical tribute later in the evening. Bouffier wanted three pieces for this: The song "The thoughts are free" - because freedom is a cornerstone of democracies, which has to be defended especially in the current time. His second music request "One Moment in Time" by Whitney Houston is an appeal to believe in yourself. An expression of his fascination for the USA is the third song "My Way" by Frank Sinatra.
The deep connection and the close exchange with representatives of the USA were important to Bouffier throughout his time in politics. Two medleys with songs that stand for Hesse and German unity, as well as two marches, round off the musical program.
The guests at the celebratory serenade include the former Federal President Christian Wulff as representative of the incumbent Federal President and the Rhineland-Palatinate Prime Minister Malu Dreyer (SPD). The Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hendrik Wüst (CDU), as Chairman of the Conference of Prime Ministers, and the incumbent President of the Federal Council and Prime Minister of Thuringia, Bodo Ramelow (Left), will give greetings.
On May 31, the Hessian state parliament elects a new prime minister. The incumbent president of the state parliament, Boris Rhein (CDU), is to succeed Bouffier at the head of the state government. The serenade as a musical tribute is given to prime ministers if they have been in office for ten years or more. Bouffier was elected by the members of the Hessian state parliament on August 31, 2010 and is the longest-serving head of government in Germany.
