German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s second shaking episode sets off health speculation

Mrs Merkel was seen trembling uncontrollably again after a similar incident last week

German Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a new shaking spell, just one week after trembling at another official ceremony. AFP

German Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a second episode of uncontrolled shaking on Thursday, just days after a similar incident sparked questions about her health.

Mrs Merkel began to tremble at a televised ceremony to formally appoint a new justice minister as she stood next to German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

The 64-year-old attempted to try and control the shaking, which went on for about two minutes before subsiding, by folding her arms.

She was passed a glass of water but did not drink from it.

Mrs Merkel was previously filmed trembling while standing next to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky eight days ago. She said the bout of shaking had taken place because she was dehydrated on a warm day.

However, the latest incident took place in a cool room in Bellevue Castle, German news agency DPA said.

The German leader is due to attend the G20 summit in Osaka on Thursday and Friday where she will be locked in difficult negotiations with US President Donald Trump over his policies on free trade and climate change.

Mrs Merkel’s spokesman Steffen Seibert tweeted she was on the way to Japan for “numerous bilateral talks with other leaders and government are planned”.

She will later be involved in high level talks on Sunday with fellow European Union leaders to find a replacement for Jean-Claude Juncker, the EU Commission president.

Germany has the strongest economy in the bloc and Mrs Merkel is often described as the most powerful female leader in the world.

A German government spokesperson for Mrs Merkel said there were no plans to cancel any of the events.

"The chancellor is well," the spokesman said.

Mrs Merkel, who has served as leader of Germany since 2005, has said she will step down as Chancellor in 2021.

Known for her stamina at the negotiating table, Mrs Merkel previously sparked concerns about her health in 2014 when she was taken ill during a television interview. She later returned to the interview, having suffered a drop in her blood pressure.

The Chancellor had knee surgery in 2011 but continued to work from home while she recovered from the operation.