During a visit to a bird park, outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel gave a rare burst of color among Germany’s drab election campaign, posing with half a dozen parrots.
One of the rainbow lorikeets, unsatisfied with the available bird food, took a bite at Merkel’s hand, causing a dramatic scream from Merkel.
Merkel, who is not seeking re-election, traveled to Mecklenburg Western-Pomerania in the northeastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern on Thursday to campaign for the center-right Union bloc’s candidate in the seat she has represented since 1990.
On Sunday, Germany will have a general election to determine the arrangements of parliament. The most powerful party generally forms a new government and appoints a new chancellor, who must be confirmed by a majority of policymakers.