Angela Merkel

Angela Merkel
Angela Merkel in 2019
Born	Birth date -1st March 1966 Hamburg, West Germany
Nationality	German
Occupation	Politician, Scientist
Known for	Chancellor of Germany (2005–2021)

Angela Dorothea Merkel (born 17 July 1954) is a German politician and scientist who served as the Chancellor of Germany from 2005 to 2021. She is a member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and was the first woman to hold the office of Chancellor in Germany.

Early Life and Education

Angela Merkel was born in Hamburg, West Germany, but her family moved to East Germany when she was an infant. Her father, Horst Kasner, was a Lutheran pastor, and her mother, Herlind Kasner, was a teacher of English and Latin. Merkel grew up in the town of Templin in the state of Brandenburg.

Merkel excelled in academics and attended the University of Leipzig, where she studied physics from 1973 to 1978. She later earned a doctorate in physics in 1986 from the Central Institute for Physical Chemistry of the Academy of Sciences of the German Democratic Republic. Her dissertation was on quantum chemistry.

Political Career

Angela Merkel's political career began after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. She joined the newly formed Democratic Awakening party, which later merged with the CDU. In 1990, she was elected to the Bundestag, the German federal parliament, representing the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

Merkel quickly rose through the ranks of the CDU, serving in various ministerial positions under Chancellor Helmut Kohl, including Minister for Women and Youth and Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety.

In 2000, Merkel was elected as the leader of the CDU, becoming the first woman to lead a major German political party. In 2005, she became the Chancellor of Germany, leading a grand coalition government.

Chancellorship (2005–2021)

During her tenure as Chancellor, Merkel was known for her pragmatic and cautious approach to governance. She played a key role in managing the European debt crisis, advocating for austerity measures and financial stability within the Eurozone.

Merkel was also a prominent figure in international diplomacy, working to strengthen the European Union and maintain strong transatlantic relations. Her leadership style was characterized by a focus on consensus-building and incremental change.

In 2015, Merkel faced significant challenges with the European migrant crisis, where she adopted a policy of open borders, allowing over a million refugees to enter Germany. This decision was both praised and criticized, impacting her political standing domestically and internationally.

Legacy

Angela Merkel is widely regarded as one of the world's most powerful women and a key figure in European and global politics. Her leadership style, often described as "steady" and "methodical," has left a lasting impact on Germany and the European Union.

Merkel's tenure as Chancellor ended in 2021, and she chose not to seek re-election. Her legacy includes her contributions to European integration, her handling of economic crises, and her role in shaping Germany's response to global challenges.

Also see

• Christian Democratic Union of Germany
• Chancellor of Germany
• European Union
• German reunification
• European migrant crisis