Era ends as Kohl bows out

1998 - Helmut Kohl, having served 16 years and 16 days as Chancellor, took his bow, bending his bulky frame to receive the award of the Grand Cross with laurel leaves for “services to Germany and Europe”. The new German parliament met, formally relieving the Chancellor of his office. His successor, Gerhard Schroeder, is to be sworn in. It has been a Velvet Succession, with none of the jagged embarrassing edges associated with a change of power at Downing Street.