Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel is expected to deliver a eulogy at the memorial service for Michael Sommer, the long-serving former chairman of the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), next week

A DGB spokesperson confirmed to the “Rheinische Post” newspaper that Merkel, who previously addressed Sommer on his 60th birthday, will be among those speaking at the service The memorial is scheduled to take place on September 10th at the DGB’s Hans-Böckler-Haus in Berlin Current DGB chair Yasmin Fahimi is also expected to pay tribute to the deceased

Michael Sommer, who led the DGB for twelve years from 2002 to 2014, passed away at the age of 73 in late June He was also a key figure in the founding of the Verdi service sector union