Angela Merkel
Angela Merkel, born on July 17, 1954, in Hamburg, Germany, is a renowned German politician who served as the Chancellor of Germany from 2005 to 2021, making her the longest-serving female head of government in Europe’s modern history. Known for her pragmatic, cautious, and consensus-driven leadership style, Merkel guided Germany through numerous crises, including the 2008 financial meltdown, the Eurozone debt crisis, and the 2015 refugee influx. Merkel, a trained physicist with a doctorate in quantum chemistry, entered politics after the fall of the Berlin Wall, joining the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). Rising rapidly, she became Germany’s first female Chancellor and a pivotal figure in European politics. She championed fiscal discipline, social market economy principles, and the European Union’s cohesion. Her leadership style—often described as steady and unflappable—earned her the nickname "Mutti" (Mom) among Germans. Despite criticism for some policies, like her stance during the refugee crisis, Merkel’s legacy is marked by her commitment to European unity, transatlantic relations, and Germany’s economic strength. She stepped down in 2021, leaving behind a legacy of stability and a more global, yet complex, German role on the world stage.
