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Angela Merkel
Angela Merkel 2019 cropped.jpg
Merkel in 2019
Chancellor of Germany
In office
22 November 2005 – 8 December 2021
President
Vice Chancellor
Preceded by Gerhard Schröder
Succeeded by Olaf Scholz
Leader of the Christian Democratic Union
In office
10 April 2000 – 7 December 2018
General Secretary
Deputy
Preceded by Wolfgang Schäuble
Succeeded by Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer
Leader of the Opposition
In office
22 September 2002 – 22 November 2005
Chancellor Gerhard Schröder
Preceded by Friedrich Merz
Succeeded by Wolfgang Gerhardt
Leader of the CDU/CSU in the Bundestag
In office
22 September 2002 – 21 November 2005
First Deputy Michael Glos
Chief Whip
  • Volker Kauder
  • Norbert Röttgen
Preceded by Friedrich Merz
Succeeded by Volker Kauder
Member of the Bundestag
for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
In office
20 December 1990 – 26 October 2021
Preceded by Constituency established
Succeeded by Anna Kassautzki
Constituency
  • Stralsund – Rügen – Grimmen (1990–2002)
  • Stralsund – Nordvorpommern – Rügen (2002–2013)
  • Vorpommern-Rügen – Vorpommern-Greifswald I (2013–2021)
Personal details
Born
Angela Dorothea Kasner

(1954-07-17) 17 July 1954 (age 70)
Hamburg, West Germany
Political party Christian Democratic Union (since 1990)
Other political
affiliations
  • Christian Democratic Union (East Germany, 1990)
  • Democratic Beginning (1989–1990)
Spouses
Ulrich Merkel
​
​
(m. 1977; div. 1982)​
​
(m. 1998)​
Residences Am Kupfergraben, Berlin
Alma mater Leipzig University (BS)
German Academy of Sciences at Berlin (Dr. rer. nat.)
Awards Full list
Signature
Scientific career
Fields Quantum chemistry
Thesis Study of the mechanism of decay reactions with single bond rupture and calculation of their rate constants based on quantum chemical and statistical methods (1986)
Doctoral advisor Lutz Zülicke [de]

Angela Dorothea Merkel (born 17 July 1954) is a German retired politician. She was the Chancellor of Germany from 2005 to 2021. She is the only woman to have ever held this important job. Before becoming Chancellor, she was the leader of the main opposition party from 2002 to 2005. She also led the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party from 2000 to 2018.

Many people saw Merkel as a very important leader in Europe and even the world during her time as Chancellor. She was born in Hamburg, West Germany, but her family moved to East Germany when she was a baby. She studied quantum chemistry and worked as a scientist before getting into politics in 1989. After German reunification in 1990, she was elected to the German parliament, the Bundestag.

Who is Angela Merkel?

Angela Merkel was a very influential leader for 16 years. She was the first woman to be Chancellor of Germany. She also grew up in East Germany, which was a separate country at the time. This made her the first Chancellor of a united Germany to have been raised in the East.

Her Early Life and Education

Angela Dorothea Kasner was born in 1954 in Hamburg, West Germany. Her father, Horst Kasner, was a Lutheran pastor, and her mother, Herlind, was a teacher. Angela has two younger siblings.

When Angela was just three months old, her family moved to East Germany. This was because her father got a job as a pastor there. She grew up in a town called Templin, which was about 90 km (56 mi) north of East Berlin.

In 1968, Angela joined the Free German Youth (FDJ). This was a youth group linked to the ruling party in East Germany. Joining was technically optional, but it made it easier to go to college. She studied physics at Leipzig University from 1973 to 1978.

After university, Merkel worked as a researcher in Berlin from 1978 to 1990. She earned a doctorate in quantum chemistry in 1986. She even published several scientific papers.

Starting in Politics

The Berlin Wall falling in November 1989 changed everything for Merkel. She joined a new political party called Demokratischer Aufbruch (Democratic Beginning). In February 1990, she became the party's press spokesperson.

Her party later joined with the East German Christian Democratic Union. This party then merged with the larger West German CDU after Germany became one country again.

Becoming a Minister

In the 1990 German election, Merkel was elected to the Bundestag, Germany's parliament. Soon after, in 1991, Chancellor Helmut Kohl appointed her as the Minister for Women and Youth. This was her first big government job.

In 1994, she was promoted to Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. This job gave her more public attention. Chancellor Kohl often called her mein Mädchen ("my girl") because she was one of his younger, rising stars.

Leading the Opposition

After her party lost the 1998 election, Merkel became the Secretary-General of the CDU. This was a very important role for the party when it was not in power. She helped the CDU win several state elections in 1999.

Following a party funding issue that involved other leaders, Merkel spoke out. She said the party needed a fresh start. On 10 April 2000, she was elected to lead the CDU, becoming the first woman to lead a major German political party.

From 2002 to 2005, Merkel was the Leader of the Opposition in the Bundestag. She pushed for changes to Germany's economy and social system. She also believed in a strong friendship between Germany and the United States.

Becoming Chancellor of Germany

In 2005, Merkel became the CDU/CSU candidate for Chancellor. Her party had a big lead in polls, but her personal popularity was lower than the current Chancellor, Gerhard Schröder.

The election on 18 September 2005 was very close. Neither party won enough seats to form a government on its own. After three weeks of talks, the CDU/CSU and the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) agreed to form a "grand coalition" government.

On 22 November 2005, Angela Merkel was elected Chancellor by the Bundestag. She was the first woman to hold this position.

First Term (2005-2009)

Merkel's first government focused on reducing unemployment. They also made changes to Germany's healthcare system. These changes aimed to make healthcare more efficient.

Second Term (2009-2013)

In the 2009 election, Merkel's CDU won more seats. They formed a new government with the FDP. During this time, Germany's unemployment rate dropped significantly.

One big decision was to end conscription in Germany, meaning young people no longer had to join the military. This made the German army a volunteer-only force from 1 July 2011.

Third Term (2013-2017)

In the 2013 election, the CDU won a huge victory. However, their partner, the FDP, did not get enough votes to enter parliament. So, Merkel formed another "grand coalition" with the SPD.

During this term, Merkel's approval ratings were very high. She was praised for how she handled the European debt crisis.

Fourth Term (2018-2021)

Merkel led her party to victory again in the 2017 election. However, both the CDU/CSU and SPD lost some support. After long negotiations, they formed a third grand coalition.

In 2018, there was a disagreement within her government about immigration policy. Her Interior Minister, Horst Seehofer, wanted stricter border controls. Merkel wanted a European agreement. They eventually found a compromise.

Key Challenges and Decisions

Merkel's time as Chancellor was marked by several major challenges.

The Financial Crisis

In 2008, a big financial crisis hit the world. Merkel's government had to step in to help banks and protect people's savings. Germany was also the biggest lender to Greece during the Greek government-debt crisis. Merkel played a key role in finding solutions for the Eurozone, though some criticized the strict measures imposed on countries like Greece.

The Refugee Crisis

In 2015, Europe faced a huge migrant crisis. Many people, especially from Syria, sought safety in Europe. Merkel's government decided to allow many asylum seekers into Germany. She famously said, Wir schaffen das (meaning 'We can do this').

This decision was praised by some as very humane. However, it also led to strong opposition within Germany and increased debates about immigration. Merkel later tightened asylum policies.

The COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. Merkel's government set up a crisis team to manage Germany's response. She was praised for her calm and clear explanations of the situation.

She also played a big part in negotiating the "Next Generation EU" plan. This was a large fund to help European countries recover from the economic effects of the pandemic.

Her Time After Being Chancellor

On 29 October 2018, Merkel announced she would not seek to be leader of the CDU again. She also said she would not run for Chancellor in the 2021 election. She left office on 8 December 2021, after Olaf Scholz became the new Chancellor.

Since leaving office, Merkel has mostly stayed out of politics. She has commented on the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying she strongly condemned it. She also defended her past decisions about Ukraine's relationship with NATO. She has been working on a book about her life called Freedom.

What She Believed In

Immigration and Refugees

Merkel believed that immigrants should integrate into German society and adopt German culture and values. She also supported a system where EU countries would share the responsibility of taking in asylum seekers.

Foreign Policy

Merkel focused on working closely with other European countries and strengthening international trade. She was often seen as the main leader of the European Union.

  • United States: Merkel had good relationships with US Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. She emphasized the importance of friendship between Germany and the US.
  • China: She visited China many times to strengthen trade ties. She also spoke out about human rights issues in China.
  • Russia: Merkel often expressed concerns about Europe's reliance on Russian energy. She also criticized Russia's actions in Ukraine.

Her Influence Around the World

Angela Merkel was seen as one of the most powerful women in the world for many years. Forbes magazine named her the world's second most powerful person twice. In 2015, Time magazine named her "Person of the Year," calling her the "Chancellor of the Free World."

Many people saw her as a strong defender of liberal democracy and a global leader, especially after Donald Trump became US President. She was widely respected around the world.

Personal Facts About Angela Merkel

Angela Merkel was married to Ulrich Merkel from 1977 to 1982. She later married Joachim Sauer, a quantum chemist, in 1998. She does not have children of her own, but her husband has two sons from a previous marriage.

She learned Russian in school and could speak informally with Vladimir Putin in Russian. She is a big fan of football and often attended games of the German national team. Merkel has a fear of dogs, which started after an incident in 1995.

In 2021, she said she considered herself a feminist.

Images for kids

See Also

  • Public image of Angela Merkel
  • Willkommenskultur
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