Nataša Pirc Musar (President of Slovenia)

Nataša Pirc Musar - President of Slovenia

Yesterday I had the great opportunity to meet Nataša Pirc Musar, who has been serving as the President of Slovenia since December 2022. Pirc Musar is a former journalist and an influential lawyer best known for writing several books on freedom of information and privacy rights and representing Donald Trump's wife Melania during his presidency. She is Slovenia's first female head of state.

Pirc Musar was among the many world leaders attending the Munich Security Conference this weekend. On Friday evening she took part in a discussion event of the MSC Security and Literature Series together with philosopher and sociologist Renata Salecl. The event, which took place at the Literaturhaus in Munich, was open to the public. Pirc Musar and Salecl talked about the rise of disinformation and fake news and discussed its effects on society. They both certainly expressed very interesting thoughts and it was a pleasure to follow their conversation. 
After the debate I waited outside where Pirc Musar then kindly signed my photo after fulfilling several other autograph requests. I am very happy about this success and meeting the President of Slovenia definetely was one of the most fascinating encounters I have had so far!

Za konec delovnega dne pa izjemno prijetna razprava s spoštovano dr. Renato Salecl o boju proti dezinformacijam in njeni novi knjigi Strast do nevednosti, ki jo priporočam v branje. Družba s kvalitetnimi javnimi mediji je manj dojemljiva na vpliv dezinformacij. #MSC2023 pic.twitter.com/kaH7RMIZae

— Nataša Pirc Musar (@nmusar) February 17, 2023

Angela Merkel (former Chancellor of Germany)

Angela Merkel - former Chancellor of Germany

Today marks one of my greatest successes so far, as I finally got to meet Angela Merkel, who served as chancellor of Germany from 2005 to 2021. Merkel also previously served as leader of the opposition from 2002 to 2005 and as leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) from 2000 to 2018. Being the first female chancellor of Germany, she was often referred to as the most powerful woman in the world.

Therefore, I was very excited when I heard that Merkel would be attending the 77th anniversary of the "Süddeutsche Zeitung", one of Germany's most important newspapers. Among the guests also were Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder and former Minister-President Edmund Stoiber. 
I arrived about half an hour early at the Gärtnerplatztheater in Munich, where the anniversary was celebrated. As I was waiting for Merkel, the square in front of the theatre was slowly filling up with guests greeting each other and having conversations.

When a small motorcade finally pulled up at the side entrance of the theatre, Merkel stepped out of her car and was greeted by Minister-President Markus Söder. Quickly, a crowd of journalists, bodyguards and curious spectators began to form around them. 
However, Merkel still took her time to pose for selfies and she kindly signed my photo, when I had made my way through the crowd.

That was the first time I have ever met a world leader, but it sure was a very exciting experience and I hope more will follow. Great success!

Merkel signing my photo

Olaf Scholz (Vice Chancellor of Germany) - Autopen

Olaf Scholz (born 14 June 1958) is a German politician who has been serving as Vice Chancellor and Minister of Finance since 2018. He was first elected to the German Parliament in 1998 and served as Minister of Labour from 2007 to 2009. Scholz also was the First Mayor of Hamburg from 2011 to 2018 and Deputy Leader of the Social Democratic Party from 2009 to 2019.

After his party entered the Fourth Merkel Government in 2018, he was appointed as Minister of Finance and Vice Chancellor.

Currently, Olaf Scholz is the party's candidate for Chancellor at the 2021 federal election.

Last week I sent a letter requesting an autographed photo as well as a self-addressed stamped envelope. After just one week I received an autopenned autograph.

Address used:

Olaf Scholz
Willy-Brandt-Haus
Wilhelmstraße 141
10963 Berlin
Germany

Sent: 4 September 2021
Received: 11 September 2021

DISCLAIMER: The autograph presented here is not real. It is an autopenned photo.

Olaf Scholz - Vice Chancellor of Germany
Autopen

Autopenned photo next to the envelope I received

John F. Kerry (68th United States Secretary of State)

John Forbes Kerry (born 11 December 1943) is an American politician and diplomat who has been serving as Special Presidential Envoy for Climate since January 2021 and who previously served as 68th United States Secretary of State from 2013 to 2017.

In 1966 Kerry enlisted in the U.S. Navy and later served in the Vietnam War from 1968 to 1969. He achieved the rank of lieutenant and earned three Purple Heart Medals, the Silver Star Medal and the Bronze Star Medal. After concluding his military service in 1970, Kerry gained national recognition as an anti-war activist and opponent of the Vietnam War.

After serving as a prosecutor and as Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, Kerry served five terms as United States Senator from 1985 to 2013. In 2004 he was the Democratic presidential candidate for the general election, which he lost to George W. Bush. 

In 2012 Kerry was nominated by Barack Obama to succeed Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State and after he was confirmed by the senate, he assumed the post in February 2013. As Secretary of State he negotiated agreements restricting the nuclear power of Iran and signed the Paris Agreement on climate change on behalf of the United States. 

When Obama's second term ended in 2017, he stepped down, but still remained active in politics as an outspoken opponent of Donald Trump. He also supported Joe Biden in the 2020 general election and became Special Presidential Envoy for Climate in Biden's new administration.

A few weeks ago I sent a letter, a self-addressed stamped envelope and three photos to be autographed. I received all my photos back signed.

Address used:

John F. Kerry
19 Louisburg Sq.
Boston, MA 02108
USA

Sent: 14 July 2021
Received: 22 August 2021

John Kerry - 68th United States Secretary of State

John Kerry next to Annalena Baerbock (right, German politician)

John Kerry next to Armin Laschet (right, German politician)

Signed photos next to the envelope I received

Gerhard Schröder (former Chancellor of Germany)

Gerhard Schröder (born 7 April 1944) is a German politician who served as Chancellor of Germany from 1998 to 2005 and also was leader of the Social Democratic Party from 1999 to 2004. Having practiced law in Hannover, Schröder was first elected to the Bundestag in 1980. From 1990 to 1998 he served as the prime minister of Lower Saxony and in 1998 he was elected Chancellor of Germany and formed a coalition government with the Greens. His coalition was reelected in 2002, but in 2005 his party suffered a humiliating defeat during the local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia. After that Schröder called for an early federal election which eventually led to Angela Merkel being elected as Chancellor. 

A few days ago I sent a letter, a self-addressed stamped envelope and a photo to be autographed. I received my photo back signed and an additional autographed card.

Address used:

Bundeskanzler a. D. Gerhard Schröder
Büro Bundeskanzler a. D. Gerhard Schröder
c/o Deutscher Bundestag
Platz der Republik 1
11011 Berlin
Germany

Sent: 30 July 2021
Received: 10 August 2021

Gerhard Schröder - former Chancellor of Germany

Gerhard Schröder next to Horst Köhler (left, former President of Germany)

Signed photos next to the envelope I received

Theresa May (former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom)

Theresa May (born 1 October 1956) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2016 to 2019. She first was elected to the House of Commons in 1997 and served as Home Secretary in David Cameron's government from 2010 to 2016. After Cameron had resigned due to the outcome of the Brexit referendum in 2016 in which a small majority had voted in favour of leaving the European Union, May was elected leader of the Conservative Party and became the UK's second female prime minister. 

As prime minister Theresa May began negotiations to withdraw the United Kingdom from the European Union. After her Brexit withdrawal agreement was rejected by the British parliament three times, May resigned in 2019 and was followed by Boris Johnson.

A few weeks ago I sent a letter, a self-addressed stamped envelope and two photos as well as a small index card to be signed. After just 12 days I received everything back signed.

Address used:

Theresa May
c/o The House of Commons
The Houses of Parliament
Westminster
London SW1A 0AA
United Kingdom

Sent: 14 July 2021
Received: 26 July 2021

Theresa May - former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
(next to Emmanuel Macron, President of France)

Theresa May - former Prime Minsiter of the United Kingdom

Index card signed by Theresa May

Photos and index card next to the envelope I received

Mette Frederiksen (Prime Minister of Norway) - Preprint

Mette Frederiksen (born 19 November 1977) is a Danish politician who has been serving as the 27th prime minister of Denmark since June 2019. She was first elected to the Danish parliament in 2001 and served as Minister of Employment from 2011 until 2014 and as Minister of Justice from 2014 until 2015. After the general election in June 2015 she also became leader of the Danish social democratic party.

Frederiksen was sworn in as prime minister on 27 June 2019 and currently is the youngest prime minister in Danish history.

Last year I requested an autograph via e-mail and after almost 1 ½ years I received a preprinted photo.

Address used: stm@stm.dk

Sent: 6 March 2020
Received: 20 July 2021

DISCLAIMER: The autograph presented here is not real. It is a preprinted photo.

Mette Frederiksen - Prime Minister of Norway
Preprint

Preprinted photo next to the envelope I received