That Mrs Merkel has a thicker skin than her (mostly forgotten) predecessor was evident recently in her Bundestag office, just steps away from the upholstered parliamentary chamber.

默克尔的联邦议院办公室离联邦议会厅只有数步之遥，而她最近在办公室的表现证明了她要比她的前任沉着冷静的多。