Angela Merkel: A Life in Politics

Early Life and Education

Angela Merkel was born on July 17, 1954, in Hamburg, West Germany. Her father was a Lutheran pastor and her mother was a teacher. Merkel studied physics at the University of Leipzig and earned a doctorate in quantum chemistry in 1978.

Political Career

Merkel began her political career in the 1980s, joining the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). She served as a member of the Bundestag (German parliament) from 1990 to 1994. In 1991, she was appointed Minister for Women and Youth in the government of Chancellor Helmut Kohl.

Chancellor of Germany

In 2005, Merkel became the first female Chancellor of Germany. She served in this role for four terms, until 2021. During her time as Chancellor, she oversaw the German response to the global financial crisis of 2008, the European sovereign debt crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Merkel was widely regarded as one of the most influential leaders in the European Union.

Legacy

Angela Merkel's legacy as Chancellor is mixed. She is credited with leading Germany through a period of economic stability and prosperity. However, she has also been criticized for her handling of the refugee crisis in 2015 and for her support of austerity measures in Southern Europe.