German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was caught off guard during a public meeting on Sunday when two topless women protestors surrounded him, calling for an embargo on gas imports.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was caught off guard during a public meeting on Sunday when two topless women protestors surrounded him, calling for an embargo on gas imports. Reportedly, Scholz was speaking at the Federal Government's Open Day event at the Chancellery in Berlin when the incident transpired. In pictures taken before the act, the two women were on either side of Scholz and fully clothed. However, after he started addressing the media, the two pulled off their tops and revealed a message ''gas embargo now" painted across their bodies. According to local media reports, the Chancellor's security guards immediately rushed after the act and attempted to whisk away the two ladies. Read More: German chancellor Scholz testifies over tax fraud scandal After some tussle, the two women were escorted off the spot with Scholz standing firm on his spot. However, this is not the first time that Scholz has had to face hostile reception during one of his public meet-ups. Reportedly, last week during a visit to Neuruppin, a town in eastern Germany, Scholz was booed by the protestors. Germany hasn't been able to get rid of Russian gas It is pertinent to note that in the backdrop of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Germany, much like the other European nations has picked Kyiv's side. However, despite talking tough against Russia, Berlin hasn't been able to get rid of Russian oil and gas, which accounted for more than 55 per cent of its requirement in 2021. The closure of the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline for maintenance and the subsequent reduced capacity has brought down this figure to 20 per cent, leaving Germany in dire need of alternatives. Read More: EU asks countries to cut gas use to tackle Russian 'blackmail' Such was Scholz's helplessness to get Nord Stream 1 to operate at its pre-war capacity that he received the delivery of the turbine at a Siemens factory in Berlin and taunted Moscow by remarking the turbine was working fine and that there was no reason it shouldn't take it back. "The turbine works. There was nothing mystical to observe here. It's quite clear and simple. The turbine is there and can be delivered, but someone needs to say I want to have it" said Scholz. Read more: The turbine conundrum: Russia and Germany play blame game on the delivery of Nord Stream 1 turbine (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Germany: Topless protestors surround Olaf Scholz at a public event; demand ban on Russian gas imports

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) has suffered a crushing defeat to its rival Christian Democratic Party (CDU) in a key state, according to the exit polls.

Local media reports claimed that Scholz’s handling of the Russia-Ukraine conflict may have cost him one of the most populous states of Germany.

Tipped to be an important bellwether for Scholz, the ruling SPD party slumped its worst to 27.4 per cent of the vote compared to CDU’s 35.3 per cent in North Rhine-Westphalia on Sunday.

According to the DW, around 13 million people were eligible to vote, making it the biggest election in Germany this year and one of the most important outside of the general election.

North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) is home to major industrial cities—Cologne, Bonn, Duesseldorf, Essen and Dortmund.

It was an SPD stronghold during the 1980s and 1990s but had been ruled by the centre-right CDU since its last election in 2017.

Watch |&nbsp;Regional election in Germany: Olaf Scholz's SPD candidate admits defeat

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/regional-election-in-germany-olaf-scholzs-spd-candidate-admits-defeat-479279/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

CDU’s Hendrik Wuest, who is also the current state premier of NRW, said he believed his party was "quite clearly the strongest force" and claimed to have the mandate to form the next regional government, reports AFP.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/test-for-german-chancellor-olaf-scholzs-party-in-important-state-election-479158">Test for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's party in important state election</a>

The 46-year-old leader took over the position from Armin Laschet last year after the former stepped down following his failed attempt to replace the outgoing Angela Merkel as German chancellor in last year's election.

Notably, this is the second state that the ruling SPD has lost.

Last week, the voters of the small northern state of Schleswig-Holstein gave a landslide victory to the CDU.

Meanwhile, the task is cut out for Scholz who will be facing another regional election in Lower Saxony state scheduled will take place in October.

In Volkswagen AG’s home state, the SPD heads a so-called “grand coalition with the CDU”.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) has suffered a crushing defeat to its rival Christian Democratic Party (CDU) in a key state, according to the exit polls.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) has suffered a crushing defeat to its rival Christian Democratic Party (CDU) in a key state, according to the exit polls. Local media reports claimed that Scholz’s handling of the Russia-Ukraine conflict may have cost him one of the most populous states of Germany. Tipped to be an important bellwether for Scholz, the ruling SPD party slumped its worst to 27.4 per cent of the vote compared to CDU’s 35.3 per cent in North Rhine-Westphalia on Sunday. According to the DW, around 13 million people were eligible to vote, making it the biggest election in Germany this year and one of the most important outside of the general election. North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) is home to major industrial cities—Cologne, Bonn, Duesseldorf, Essen and Dortmund. It was an SPD stronghold during the 1980s and 1990s but had been ruled by the centre-right CDU since its last election in 2017. Watch | Regional election in Germany: Olaf Scholz's SPD candidate admits defeat CDU’s Hendrik Wuest, who is also the current state premier of NRW, said he believed his party was "quite clearly the strongest force" and claimed to have the mandate to form the next regional government, reports AFP. Also read | Test for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's party in important state election The 46-year-old leader took over the position from Armin Laschet last year after the former stepped down following his failed attempt to replace the outgoing Angela Merkel as German chancellor in last year's election. Notably, this is the second state that the ruling SPD has lost. Last week, the voters of the small northern state of Schleswig-Holstein gave a landslide victory to the CDU. Meanwhile, the task is cut out for Scholz who will be facing another regional election in Lower Saxony state scheduled will take place in October. In Volkswagen AG’s home state, the SPD heads a so-called “grand coalition with the CDU”. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Chancellor Olaf Scholz's SPD loses key Germany state to rival CDU in regional elections

It has been 5 months since Olaf Scholz was elected as Germany's new chancellor. Now Germany's most populous state North Rhine-Westphalia is bracing for elections, this comes as an early test for Scholz's Social Democrats

North Rhine-Westphalia goes to polls, Scholz's SDP faces key test

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday, September 1 opened a new epidemic intelligence hub with WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The chancellor took a blushing approach to high praise heaped on her by Ghebreyesus, thanking him for the 'heavy' medal and saying that there was still much to be done.

At the opening of the hub, Merkel said: "We want to be better armed for future pandemics and epidemics... if I am honest it wasn't really clear to me that a pandemic could hit Europe one day. At the time we were working on the basis of this not coming to Europe but now we have experienced it first hand and must learn our lessons from it."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/merkel-germanys-eternal-chancellor-prepares-to-leave-the-stage-409995" hreflang="en">Merkel, Germany's 'eternal' chancellor, prepares to leave the stage</a>

The hub will serve as a collecting point for all available information on viruses. The data will then be analysed for use in the global fight against pandemics.

Merkel praised Berlin as a location for a hub alongside the Charite hospital and Robert Koch Institute.

The hub and its work will, according to the Berlin Senate, be given 30 million euros funding as a token of German support for the World Health Organisation.

"We must work together and above all we need to understand that it isn't enough if one country is vaccinated. Everyone has to be vaccinated to stop all the mutations preventing us from finding a way out of the pandemic. The pandemic also showed me how much we need the WHO. It is the body for global health and needs solid and reliable financing," said.

The hub offers: "a bit of hope in these sometimes difficult times," she added.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday, September 1 opened a new epidemic intelligence hub with WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The chancellor took a blushing approach to high praise heaped on her by Ghebreyesus, thanking him for the 'heavy' medal and saying that there was still much to be done.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday, September 1 opened a new epidemic intelligence hub with WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The chancellor took a blushing approach to high praise heaped on her by Ghebreyesus, thanking him for the 'heavy' medal and saying that there was still much to be done. At the opening of the hub, Merkel said: "We want to be better armed for future pandemics and epidemics... if I am honest it wasn't really clear to me that a pandemic could hit Europe one day. At the time we were working on the basis of this not coming to Europe but now we have experienced it first hand and must learn our lessons from it." Also read | Merkel, Germany's 'eternal' chancellor, prepares to leave the stage The hub will serve as a collecting point for all available information on viruses. The data will then be analysed for use in the global fight against pandemics. Merkel praised Berlin as a location for a hub alongside the Charite hospital and Robert Koch Institute. The hub and its work will, according to the Berlin Senate, be given 30 million euros funding as a token of German support for the World Health Organisation. "We must work together and above all we need to understand that it isn't enough if one country is vaccinated. Everyone has to be vaccinated to stop all the mutations preventing us from finding a way out of the pandemic. The pandemic also showed me how much we need the WHO. It is the body for global health and needs solid and reliable financing," said. The hub offers: "a bit of hope in these sometimes difficult times," she added.

Germany's Angela Merkel receives World Health award

She was called "the leader of the free world" as authoritarian populists were on the march in Europe and the United States but Angela Merkel is wrapping up a historic 16 years in power with an uncertain legacy at home and abroad.

In office so long she was dubbed Germany's "eternal chancellor", Merkel, 67, leaves with her popularity so resilient she would likely have won a record fifth term had she wanted to extend her mandate.

Instead, Merkel will pass the baton as the first German chancellor to step down entirely by choice, with a whole generation of voters never knowing another person at the top.

Her supporters say she provided steady, pragmatic leadership through countless global crises as a moderate and unifying figure.

<img alt="Turkey&amp;#39;s actions in east Mediterranean regrettable: Merkel | Reuters.com" src="https://s3.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&amp;d=20201016&amp;t=2&amp;i=1537746051&amp;w=780&amp;fh=&amp;fw=&amp;ll=&amp;pl=&amp;sq=&amp;r=LYNXMPEG9F18L" />

Yet critics argue a muddle-through style of leadership, pegged to the broadest possible consensus, lacked the bold vision to prepare Europe and its top economy for the coming decades.

What is certain is that she leaves behind a fractured political landscape, with the question of who will govern Germany next wide open just weeks before the September 26 election.

Assuming she stays on to hand over power, she will tie or exceed Helmut Kohl's longevity record for a post-war leader, depending on how long the upcoming coalition negotiations drag on.

'Do the right thing'

The brainy, unflappable Merkel has served for many in recent years as a welcome counter-balance to the big, brash men of global politics, from Donald Trump to Vladimir Putin.

<img alt="G-7 Summit: Angela Merkel and Donald Trump in Viral Photo | Time" src="https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/donald-trump-angela-merkel-g7-summit.jpg" />

A Pew Research Center poll late last year showed large majorities in most Western countries having "confidence in Merkel to do the right thing regarding world affairs".

However the last days of her tenure have also been marred by what Merkel called the "bitter, dramatic and terrible" return of the Taliban to power in Afghanistan -- a debacle in which she shares the blame as German troops pull out.

A trained quantum chemist raised behind the Iron Curtain, Merkel has long been in sync with her change-averse electorate as a guarantor of stability.

Her major policy shifts have reflected the wishes of large German majorities -- among them phasing out nuclear power after the 2011 Fukushima disaster -- and attracted a broad new coalition of women and urban voters to the once arch-conservative CDU.

'Austerity queen'

Before the coronavirus pandemic, her boldest move -- keeping open German borders in 2015 to more than one million asylum seekers -- seemed set to determine her legacy.

But while many Germans rallied to Merkel's "We can do it" cry, the move also emboldened an anti-migrant party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), ushering a far-right bloc into parliament for the first time since World War II.

At the same time, hardline leaders such as Hungary's Viktor Orban accused her of "moral imperialism" with her welcoming stance.

Six years on, she lamented this month, the European Union appears no closer to a unified policy on migration.

<img alt="German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives for the weekly cabinet meeting at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, May 19, 2021. REUTERS/Michele Tantussi/Pool" src="https://cloudfront-us-east-2.images.arcpublishing.com/reuters/MDEGE6AWTJOMBHWNYGTSGYRKBY.jpg" />

The woman once known as the "climate chancellor" for pushing renewables also faces a mass movement of young activists arguing Merkel has failed to face up to the climate emergency, with Germany not even meeting its own emissions-reduction commitments.

She became Europe's go-to leader during the eurozone crisis when Berlin championed swingeing spending cuts in return for international bailout loans for debt-mired countries.

Angry protesters dubbed her Europe's "austerity queen" and caricatured her in Nazi garb while defenders credit her with holding the currency union together.

More recently, despite admitted missteps in the coronavirus pandemic including a sluggish vaccine roll-out, Germany's infection levels and death toll have remained lower than those of many European partners relative to its population.

Kohl's 'girl' to 'Mummy'

Merkel, the EU's and G7's most senior leader, started as a contemporary of George W. Bush, Tony Blair and Jacques Chirac when she became Germany's youngest and first female chancellor in 2005.

She was born Angela Dorothea Kasner on July 17, 1954 in the port city of Hamburg, the daughter of a Lutheran clergyman and a school teacher.

Her father moved the family to a small-town parish in the communist East at a time when tens of thousands were headed the other way.

<img alt="German Chancellor Angela Merkel holds her annual summer news conference in Berlin, Germany, July 22, 2021. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke/Pool" src="https://cloudfront-us-east-2.images.arcpublishing.com/reuters/4ZNIPWPKUZKDJBYK4XRY447SIQ.jpg" />

She excelled in mathematics and Russian, which has helped her maintain the dialogue with the other veteran on the world stage, Russia's Putin, who was a KGB officer in Dresden when the Berlin Wall fell in 1989.

Merkel kept the name of her first husband, whom she married in 1977 and divorced five years later.

After the fall of the Berlin Wall, Merkel, who was working in a chemistry lab, joined a pro-democracy group that would merge with Kohl's Christian Democrats.

The Protestant from the east whom Kohl nicknamed his "girl" would later be elected leader of a party until then dominated by western Catholic patriarchs.

As she rose to power, party rivals sneeringly called her "Mutti" (Mummy) behind her back but she deftly -- some said ruthlessly -- eliminated potential challengers.

Although her name has come up on wish lists for key EU or United Nations posts, Merkel has said she will leave politics altogether.

Asked on her final trip to Washington in June what she looked forward to most, she replied "not having to constantly make decisions".

She was called "the leader of the free world" as authoritarian populists were on the march in Europe and the United States but Angela Merkel is wrapping up a historic 16 years in power with an uncertain legacy at home and abroad.

She was called "the leader of the free world" as authoritarian populists were on the march in Europe and the United States but Angela Merkel is wrapping up a historic 16 years in power with an uncertain legacy at home and abroad. In office so long she was dubbed Germany's "eternal chancellor", Merkel, 67, leaves with her popularity so resilient she would likely have won a record fifth term had she wanted to extend her mandate. Instead, Merkel will pass the baton as the first German chancellor to step down entirely by choice, with a whole generation of voters never knowing another person at the top. Her supporters say she provided steady, pragmatic leadership through countless global crises as a moderate and unifying figure. Yet critics argue a muddle-through style of leadership, pegged to the broadest possible consensus, lacked the bold vision to prepare Europe and its top economy for the coming decades. What is certain is that she leaves behind a fractured political landscape, with the question of who will govern Germany next wide open just weeks before the September 26 election. Assuming she stays on to hand over power, she will tie or exceed Helmut Kohl's longevity record for a post-war leader, depending on how long the upcoming coalition negotiations drag on. 'Do the right thing' The brainy, unflappable Merkel has served for many in recent years as a welcome counter-balance to the big, brash men of global politics, from Donald Trump to Vladimir Putin. A Pew Research Center poll late last year showed large majorities in most Western countries having "confidence in Merkel to do the right thing regarding world affairs". However the last days of her tenure have also been marred by what Merkel called the "bitter, dramatic and terrible" return of the Taliban to power in Afghanistan -- a debacle in which she shares the blame as German troops pull out. A trained quantum chemist raised behind the Iron Curtain, Merkel has long been in sync with her change-averse electorate as a guarantor of stability. Her major policy shifts have reflected the wishes of large German majorities -- among them phasing out nuclear power after the 2011 Fukushima disaster -- and attracted a broad new coalition of women and urban voters to the once arch-conservative CDU. 'Austerity queen' Before the coronavirus pandemic, her boldest move -- keeping open German borders in 2015 to more than one million asylum seekers -- seemed set to determine her legacy. But while many Germans rallied to Merkel's "We can do it" cry, the move also emboldened an anti-migrant party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), ushering a far-right bloc into parliament for the first time since World War II. At the same time, hardline leaders such as Hungary's Viktor Orban accused her of "moral imperialism" with her welcoming stance. Six years on, she lamented this month, the European Union appears no closer to a unified policy on migration. The woman once known as the "climate chancellor" for pushing renewables also faces a mass movement of young activists arguing Merkel has failed to face up to the climate emergency, with Germany not even meeting its own emissions-reduction commitments. She became Europe's go-to leader during the eurozone crisis when Berlin championed swingeing spending cuts in return for international bailout loans for debt-mired countries. Angry protesters dubbed her Europe's "austerity queen" and caricatured her in Nazi garb while defenders credit her with holding the currency union together. More recently, despite admitted missteps in the coronavirus pandemic including a sluggish vaccine roll-out, Germany's infection levels and death toll have remained lower than those of many European partners relative to its population. Kohl's 'girl' to 'Mummy' Merkel, the EU's and G7's most senior leader, started as a contemporary of George W. Bush, Tony Blair and Jacques Chirac when she became Germany's youngest and first female chancellor in 2005. She was born Angela Dorothea Kasner on July 17, 1954 in the port city of Hamburg, the daughter of a Lutheran clergyman and a school teacher. Her father moved the family to a small-town parish in the communist East at a time when tens of thousands were headed the other way. She excelled in mathematics and Russian, which has helped her maintain the dialogue with the other veteran on the world stage, Russia's Putin, who was a KGB officer in Dresden when the Berlin Wall fell in 1989. Merkel kept the name of her first husband, whom she married in 1977 and divorced five years later. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, Merkel, who was working in a chemistry lab, joined a pro-democracy group that would merge with Kohl's Christian Democrats. The Protestant from the east whom Kohl nicknamed his "girl" would later be elected leader of a party until then dominated by western Catholic patriarchs. As she rose to power, party rivals sneeringly called her "Mutti" (Mummy) behind her back but she deftly -- some said ruthlessly -- eliminated potential challengers. Although her name has come up on wish lists for key EU or United Nations posts, Merkel has said she will leave politics altogether. Asked on her final trip to Washington in June what she looked forward to most, she replied "not having to constantly make decisions".

Merkel, Germany's 'eternal' chancellor, prepares to leave the stage

Angela Merkel considered as the most powerful female leader in the world has completed the 15 years as Germany's chancellor and become the second leader in Germany to complete a term of 15 years.

'Angela Merkel' world's most powerful female leader marks 15 years in power