Contents
Angela Merkel
Serving as Germany’s chancellor for sixteen years.
European Union · Christian Democratic Union
- Born
- 17 July 1954
- Birthplace
- Hamburg, Germany
More people
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Franklin D. RooseveltLeading the United States through the Great Depression and most of the Second World War.Angela Merkel
Angela Merkel is a former German chancellor who led four coalition governments from 2005 to 2021. A trained scientist from East Germany, she became a central negotiator in European politics during repeated international crises.
Early life
East German upbringing
Born in Hamburg, she moved with her family to East Germany as an infant.
Scientific training
Studied physics in Leipzig and completed a doctorate in quantum chemistry in Berlin.
Career
- 1989–1990
Entry into politics
Joined Democratic Awakening during East Germany’s political transformation, then entered the CDU.
- 1991–1998
Federal minister
Held portfolios for women and youth, and later the environment.
- 2000
Party leadership
Became leader of the Christian Democratic Union.
- 2005–2021
Chancellor
Led Germany through financial, eurozone, migration and pandemic crises.
Public work
European negotiations
Helped negotiate the political agreement leading to the Lisbon Treaty.
Nuclear phase-out
Her government accelerated Germany’s withdrawal from nuclear power after Fukushima.
Refugee reception
Kept Germany open to large numbers seeking refuge, a consequential and contested decision.
Beyond public life
Research career
Worked at East Germany’s Academy of Sciences before entering national politics.
Memoir
Published Freedom with Beate Baumann in 2024, reflecting on her life and time in office.
Sources & photo credit
Biography ↗Life and work ↗Photo: Raimond Spekking. CC BY-SA 4.0 · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
