Angela Merkel

File:Ludwik Marian Kaźmierczak in the uniform of Haller's Army with fiancée Margarethe.jpg uniform]]{{See also|Family of Angela Merkel}}

Merkel was born Angela Dorothea Kasner in 1954, in Hamburg, West Germany, the daughter of Horst Kasner (1926–2011; né {{Lang|pl|Kaźmierczak|italic=no}}),{{cite book|last=Langguth|first=Gerd|author-link=Gerd Langguth|title=Angela Merkel|date=August 2005|language=de|isbn=3-423-24485-2|page=10|publisher=Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag }}{{Cite web |date=13 March 2013 |title=Kanzlerin Merkel hat polnische Wurzeln |url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/familiegeschichte-der-kanzlerin-merkel-hat-polnische-wurzeln-1.1623363 |access-date=20 June 2023 |website=Süddeutsche.de |language=de |archive-date=9 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109144341/http://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/familiegeschichte-der-kanzlerin-merkel-hat-polnische-wurzeln-1.1623363 |url-status=live }} a Lutheran pastor and a native of Berlin, and his wife Herlind (1928–2019; née Jentzsch), born in Danzig (now Gdańsk, Poland), a teacher of English and Latin. She has two younger siblings, Marcus Kasner, a physicist, and Irene Kasner, an occupational therapist. In her childhood and youth, Merkel was known among her peers by the nickname "Kasi", derived from her last name Kasner.{{cite book |last=Qvortrup |first=Matthew |year= 2016 |title= Angela Merkel: Europe's Most Influential Leader |publisher= The Overlook Press |isbn= 978-1-4683-1408-3 |chapter=In the Shadow of the Berlin Wall}}{{Page needed|date=June 2023}}{{Cite web |date=26 August 2021 |title=Merkel, power player who changed Germany |url=https://thewest.com.au/politics/merkel-power-player-who-changed-germany-c-3790345 |access-date=21 June 2023 |website=The West Australian |archive-date=21 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230621114733/https://thewest.com.au/politics/merkel-power-player-who-changed-germany-c-3790345 |url-status=live}}

Merkel is of German and Polish descent. Her paternal grandfather, Ludwik Kasner, was a German policeman of Polish ethnicity. After being captured in France during World War I, he joined the Blue Army and likely fought against Germany.{{Cite web|url=http://blogs.bbk.ac.uk/research/2014/06/18/picturing-the-family-media-narrative-memory/|title=Picturing the Family: Media, Narrative, Memory {{pipe}} Research|date=18 June 2014 |access-date=11 February 2017|archive-date=1 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170501082559/http://blogs.bbk.ac.uk/research/2014/06/18/picturing-the-family-media-narrative-memory/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news |last1=Schuller |first1=Konrad |last2=Warschau |date=22 March 2013 |title=Merkels polnische Wurzeln: Großvaters Krieg |language=de |work=FAZ.NET |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/ausland/merkels-polnische-wurzeln-grossvaters-krieg-12124653.html |access-date=7 August 2023 |issn=0174-4909 |archive-date=19 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119001700/https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/ausland/merkels-polnische-wurzeln-grossvaters-krieg-12124653.html |url-status=live}} He married Merkel's grandmother Margarethe, a German from Berlin, and relocated to her hometown where he again worked in the police. In 1930, they Germanised the Polish name Kaźmierczak to Kasner.{{cite book|last=Kornelius|first=Stefan|author-link=Stefan Kornelius|title= Angela Merkel: Die Kanzlerin und ihre Welt|date=March 2013|publisher=Hoffmann und Campe|language=de|isbn=978-3-455-50291-6|page=7}}{{cite news|first=Stefan|last=Kornelius |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/german-elections-blog-2013/2013/sep/10/angela-merkel-origins-germany-election |title=Six things you didn't know about Angela Merkel |newspaper=The Guardian |date=10 September 2013 |access-date=29 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130910133147/http://www.theguardian.com/world/german-elections-blog-2013/2013/sep/10/angela-merkel-origins-germany-election |archive-date=10 September 2013 |url-status = live}}{{cite news|url= http://www.dw.de/the-german-chancellors-polish-roots/a-16698783|title=The German chancellor's Polish roots|publisher=Deutsche Welle|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130503221041/http://www.dw.de/the-german-chancellors-polish-roots/a-16698783|archive-date=3 May 2013 }}{{cite news|work=Süddeutsche Zeitung |date=13 March 2013 |archive-date=6 September 2013 |url-status = live|url=http://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/familiegeschichte-der-kanzlerin-merkel-hat-polnische-wurzeln-1.1623363 |title=Merkel hat polnische Wurzeln |trans-title=Merkel has Polish roots |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130906161618/http://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/familiegeschichte-der-kanzlerin-merkel-hat-polnische-wurzeln-1.1623363 }} Merkel's maternal grandparents were the Danzig politician Willi Jentzsch and Gertrud Alma (née Drange), a daughter of the city clerk of Elbing (now Elbląg, Poland) Emil Drange. Since the mid-1990s, Merkel has publicly mentioned her Polish heritage on several occasions and described herself as a quarter Polish, but her Polish roots became better known as a result of a 2013 biography.{{cite news|url=https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article114407379/Kanzlerin-Angela-Merkel-ist-zu-einem-Viertel-Polin.html|title=Ahnenforschung: Kanzlerin Angela Merkel ist zu einem Viertel Polin|newspaper=Die Welt|language=de|date=13 March 2013|last1=Krauel|first1=Torsten|access-date=18 November 2016|archive-date=10 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180910211006/https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article114407379/Kanzlerin-Angela-Merkel-ist-zu-einem-Viertel-Polin.html|url-status=live}}

Religion played a key role in the Kasner family's migration from West Germany to East Germany.{{Cite journal|last=Boyes|first=Roger|date=25 July 2005|title=Angela Merkel: Forged in the Old Communist East, Germany's Chancellor-in-Waiting Is Not like the Others|url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-135063118/angela-merkel-forged-in-the-old-communist-east-germany-s|journal=New Statesman|access-date=28 April 2017|archive-date=28 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170428142525/https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-135063118/angela-merkel-forged-in-the-old-communist-east-germany-s|url-status=live}} Merkel's paternal grandfather was originally Catholic but the entire family converted to Lutheranism during the childhood of her father, who later studied Lutheran theology in Heidelberg and Hamburg. In 1954, when Angela was just three months old, her father received a pastorate at the church in {{Interlanguage link|Quitzow (Perleberg)|de|lt=Quitzow|vertical-align=sup}} (a district of Perleberg in Brandenburg), which was then in East Germany. The family moved to Templin and Merkel grew up in the countryside {{convert|90|km|mi|abbr=on}} north of East Berlin.{{Cite journal|last=Werner|first=Reutter|date=1 December 2005|title=Who's Afraid of Angela Merkel?: The Life, Political Career, and Future of the New German Chancellor|url=https://www.questia.com/read/1P3-1042718031/who-s-afraid-of-angela-merkel-the-life-political|journal=International Journal|volume=61|access-date=28 April 2017|archive-date=28 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170428144045/https://www.questia.com/read/1P3-1042718031/who-s-afraid-of-angela-merkel-the-life-political|url-status=live}}

In 1968, Merkel joined the Free German Youth (FDJ), the official communist youth movement sponsored by the ruling Marxist–Leninist Socialist Unity Party of Germany.{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/10278014/Angela-Merkel-the-girl-who-never-wanted-to-stand-out-to-win-big-again.html|title=Angela Merkel, the girl who never wanted to stand out, to win big again|last=Vasagar|first=Jeevan|date=1 September 2013|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=19 April 2017|language=en|archive-date=19 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419115550/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/10278014/Angela-Merkel-the-girl-who-never-wanted-to-stand-out-to-win-big-again.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/angela-merkels-unlikely-journey-from-communist-east-germany-to-the-chancellorship-a6738271.html|title=Angela Merkel's journey from Communist East Germany to Chancellor|last=Patterson|first=Tony|date=17 November 2015|work=The Independent|access-date=19 April 2017|language=en-GB|archive-date=19 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419104415/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/angela-merkels-unlikely-journey-from-communist-east-germany-to-the-chancellorship-a6738271.html|url-status=live}} Membership was nominally voluntary, but those who did not join found it difficult to gain admission to higher education.{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/647091179 |title=The Study of international relations : the state of the art |date=1989 |publisher=Macmillan, in association with Millennium, journal of international studies |isbn=978-1-349-20275-1 |location=Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire |pages=328 |oclc=647091179}} She did not participate in the secular coming-of-age ceremony Jugendweihe, however, which was common in East Germany. Instead, she was confirmed.{{cite web|url=https://www.newstatesman.com/world/europe/2017/07/learning-machine-angela-merkel|title=The learning machine: Angela Merkel|work=New Statesman|date=8 July 2017|first=Kristina|last=Spohr|access-date=11 January 2018|archive-date=12 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180112043002/https://www.newstatesman.com/world/europe/2017/07/learning-machine-angela-merkel|url-status=live}} During this time, she participated in several compulsory courses on Marxism–Leninism, with her grades only being regarded as "sufficient".{{cite web|title=5 Things to Know About Germany's Angela Merkel|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2017/09/17/world/europe/ap-eu-germany-merkel-five-things.html|year=2017|agency=Associated Press|access-date=21 June 2023|archive-date=3 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003225312/https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2017/09/17/world/europe/ap-eu-germany-merkel-five-things.html|url-status=live}} Merkel later said that "Life in the GDR was sometimes almost comfortable in a certain way, because there were some things one simply couldn't influence."{{cite news |title=Life in Communist East Germany was 'almost comfortable' at times, Merkel says |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-berlinwall-merkel/life-in-communist-east-germany-was-almost-comfortable-at-times-merkel-says-idUSKBN1XI287 |work=Reuters |date=8 November 2019 |access-date=14 November 2019 |archive-date=11 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191111153300/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-berlinwall-merkel/life-in-communist-east-germany-was-almost-comfortable-at-times-merkel-says-idUSKBN1XI287 |url-status=live }} Merkel learned to speak Russian fluently at school, and she was awarded prizes for her proficiency in Russian and mathematics, being at the top of her class in these subjects. She completed her school education with the best possible average Abitur grade of 1.0.{{cite book|title=Angela Merkel|last=Langguth|first=Gerd|date=August 2005|publisher=DTV|isbn=3-423-24485-2|page=50|language=de|author-link=Gerd Langguth}}

Merkel continued her education at Karl Marx University, Leipzig, where she studied physics from 1973 to 1978. While a student, she participated in the reconstruction of the ruin of the Moritzbastei, a project students initiated to create their own club and recreation facility on campus. Such an initiative was unprecedented in the GDR of that period, and initially resisted by the university. With the backing of the local leadership of the SED party, the project was allowed to proceed.{{cite news|language=de |work=Der Spiegel |date=27 March 2009 |url=https://www.spiegel.de/geschichte/legendaere-clubs-a-949765.html |first=Torsten |last=Reitler |title=Drogenwahn auf der Dauerbaustelle |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100113154152/http://einestages.spiegel.de/static/authoralbumbackground/3852/drogenwahn_auf_der_baustelle.html |archive-date=13 January 2010 |access-date=19 August 2011 |url-status = live}}

Near the end of her studies, Merkel sought an assistant professorship at an engineering school. As a condition for getting the job, Merkel was told she would need to agree to report on her colleagues to officers of the Stasi. Merkel declined, using the excuse that she could not keep secrets well enough to be an effective spy.

Merkel worked and studied at the Central Institute for Physical Chemistry of the Academy of Sciences in Berlin-Adlershof from 1978 to 1990. At first, she and her husband squatted in Mitte.{{cite news |language=en |publisher=Deutsche Welle |date=28 February 2008 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/i-was-a-squatter-reveals-german-chancellor-merkel/a-3156628 |access-date=18 May 2021 |title=I Was a Squatter, Reveals German Chancellor Merkel |archive-date=8 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308230856/https://www.dw.com/en/i-was-a-squatter-reveals-german-chancellor-merkel/a-3156628 |url-status=live }} At the Academy of Sciences, she became a member of its FDJ secretariat. According to her former colleagues, she openly propagated Marxism as the secretary for "Agitation and Propaganda".{{cite magazine |date=14 May 2013 |title=How Close Was Merkel to the Communist System? |url=https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/new-book-suggests-angela-merkel-was-closer-to-communism-than-thought-a-899768.html |access-date=18 May 2021 |magazine=Der Spiegel |archive-date=10 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510231524/https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/new-book-suggests-angela-merkel-was-closer-to-communism-than-thought-a-899768.html |url-status=live }} However, Merkel has denied this claim and stated that she was secretary for culture, which involved activities like obtaining theatre tickets and organising talks by visiting Soviet authors.{{cite book|title=Angela Merkel|last=Langguth|first=Gerd|publisher=dtv|year=2005|isbn=3-423-24485-2|location=Munich|pages=106–107|language=de|quote=Angela Merkel war allerdings kein 'einfaches Mitglied', sondern gehörte zum FDJ-Sekretariat des Instituts. Osten [Hans-Jörg Osten] kann sich nicht an die genaue Funktion seiner damaligen Kollegin erinnern. ... Er kann sich nicht definitiv daran erinnern, aber auch nicht ausschließen, dass Angela Merkel die Funktion eines Sekretärs für Agitation und Propaganda wahrnahm. [Angela Merkel was not just an 'ordinary member', but belonged to the FDJ secretariat of the institute. Osten cannot remember the exact function of his erstwhile colleague. ... He cannot remember definitely whether she performed the function of a secretary for agitation and propaganda, but he cannot exclude that possibility.]}} She stated: "I can only rely on my memory, if something turns out to be different, I can live with that."

After being awarded a doctorate (Dr. rer. nat.) for her thesis on quantum chemistry in 1986,{{cite book|title=Untersuchung des Mechanismus von Zerfallsreaktionen mit einfachem Bindungsbruch und Berechnung ihrer Geschwindigkeitskonstanten auf der Grundlage quantenchemischer und statistischer Methoden (Investigation of the mechanism of decay reactions with single bond breaking and calculation of their rate constants on the basis of quantum chemical and statistical methods)|last=Merkel|first=Angela|publisher=Academy of Sciences of the German Democratic Republic (dissertation)|year=1986|location=Berlin|language=de}} cited in {{cite book|title=Angela Merkel|last=Langguth|first=Gerd|date=August 2005|publisher=DTV|isbn=3-423-24485-2|location=Munich|page=109|language=de}} and listed in the Catalogue of the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek under subject code 30 (Chemistry). she worked as a researcher and published several academic papers.{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Saskia |date=20 April 2020 |title=The Secret to Germany's COVID-19 Success: Angela Merkel Is a Scientist |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2020/04/angela-merkel-germany-coronavirus-pandemic/610225/ |access-date=21 June 2023 |website=The Atlantic |language=en |archive-date=2 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502085127/https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2020/04/angela-merkel-germany-coronavirus-pandemic/610225/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Scopus preview – Merkel, Angela – Author details – Scopus |url=https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=24432527000 |access-date=21 June 2023 |website=www.scopus.com |archive-date=25 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525061545/https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=24432527000 |url-status=live }} In 1986, she was allowed to travel to West Germany to attend a congress. She also participated in a multi-week Russian language{{which|date=January 2025}} course in Donetsk, in the then-Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.{{cite news |url=https://www.thueringer-allgemeine.de/politik/wie-angela-merkel-beinahe-thueringerin-wurde-id220259981.html |title=Wie Angela Merkel beinahe Thüringerin wurde |newspaper=Thüringer Allgemeine |language=de |date=17 July 2014 |first=Wolfgang |last=Suckert |access-date=18 May 2021 |archive-date=1 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210601194527/https://www.thueringer-allgemeine.de/politik/wie-angela-merkel-beinahe-thueringerin-wurde-id220259981.html |url-status=live }}

File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1990-0803-017, Lothar de Maiziere und Angela Merkel.jpg and Merkel, 1990]]

The fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989 served as the catalyst for Merkel's political career. Although she did not participate in the crowd celebrations the night the wall came down, one month later Merkel became involved in the growing democracy movement, joining the new party Democratic Awakening ({{lang|de|Demokratischer Aufbruch}}, abbreviated to DA). Party Leader Wolfgang Schnur appointed her as press spokeswoman of the party in February 1990. However, Schnur was revealed to have served as an "informal co-worker" for the Stasi just a few weeks ahead of the first (and only) multi-party election in 1990 and was later expelled from the party. As a result, the DA lost most of its electoral support, only managing to obtain four seats in the Volkskammer. However, because the DA was a member party of the Alliance for Germany, which won the election in a landslide, the DA was included in the government coalition. Merkel was appointed deputy spokesperson of this last pre-unification government under Lothar de Maizière.{{cite book|title=Angela Merkel|last=Langguth|first=Gerd|date=August 2005|publisher=DTV|isbn=3-423-24485-2|location=Munich|pages=112–137|language=de|orig-year=2005}}

De Maizière was impressed with the way Merkel handled journalists investigating Schnur's role in the Stasi.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-09-19/angela-merkels-early-years-in-east-germany-shaped-her-crisis-politics|title=Angela Merkel's Years in East Germany Shaped Her Crisis Politics|last1=Crawford|first1=Alan|date=20 September 2013|publisher=Bloomberg L.P.|access-date=29 April 2017|last2=Czuczka|first2=Tony|archive-date=9 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709045819/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-09-19/angela-merkels-early-years-in-east-germany-shaped-her-crisis-politics|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/angela-merkel/11920552/10-moments-that-define-German-chancellor-Angela-Merkel.html|title=10 moments that define German chancellor Angela Merkel|last=Huggler|first=Justin|date=9 October 2015|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=29 April 2017|language=en|archive-date=22 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170522105808/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/angela-merkel/11920552/10-moments-that-define-German-chancellor-Angela-Merkel.html|url-status=live}} In April 1990, the DA merged with the East German Christian Democratic Union, which in turn merged with its western counterpart after reunification.{{Cite web |last=Agethen |first=Manfred |title=Demokratischer Aufbruch (DA) – Geschichte der CDU |url=https://www.kas.de/de/web/geschichte-der-cdu/demokratischer-aufbruch-da- |access-date=5 June 2023 |website=Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung |language=de |archive-date=5 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605115239/https://www.kas.de/de/web/geschichte-der-cdu/demokratischer-aufbruch-da- |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|title=Demokratischer Aufbruch |url=https://www.bpb.de/kurz-knapp/lexika/politiklexikon/17322/demokratischer-aufbruch/ |access-date=5 June 2023 |website=Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung |language=de |archive-date=5 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605115238/https://www.bpb.de/kurz-knapp/lexika/politiklexikon/17322/demokratischer-aufbruch/ |url-status=live }}

In the German federal election of 1990, the first to be held following reunification, Merkel successfully stood for election to the Bundestag in the parliamentary constituency of Stralsund – Nordvorpommern – Rügen in North Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.{{Cite news|url=https://www.focus.de/regional/mecklenburg-vorpommern/kommunen-merkel-im-landkreis-vorpommern-ruegen-erwartet_id_6455183.html|agency=dpa|title=Merkel wirbt für gute Finanzausstattung der Kommunen|date=6 January 2010|work=Focus Online|access-date=29 April 2017|language=de|archive-date=9 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109094717/http://www.focus.de/regional/mecklenburg-vorpommern/kommunen-merkel-im-landkreis-vorpommern-ruegen-erwartet_id_6455183.html|url-status=live}} She received the crucial backing of influential CDU minister and state party chairman Günther Krause. She was re-elected from this constituency (renamed, with slightly adjusted borders, Vorpommern-Rügen – Vorpommern-Greifswald I in 2003) in every election until the CDU lost its direct mandate from the constituency in the 2021 federal election.{{Cite web|date=27 September 2021 |title=Merkel gewann acht Mal in Folge das Direktmandat in ihrem Wahlkreis – jetzt siegte eine junge SPD-Politikerin |url=https://www.stern.de/politik/deutschland/cdu-verliert-direktmandat-in-merkels-bisherigem-wahlkreis-an-spd-politikerin-30777532.html |access-date=21 June 2023 |website=stern.de |language=de |archive-date=6 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206203902/https://www.stern.de/politik/deutschland/cdu-verliert-direktmandat-in-merkels-bisherigem-wahlkreis-an-spd-politikerin-30777532.html |url-status=live }} Almost immediately following her entry into parliament, Merkel was appointed by Chancellor Helmut Kohl to serve as Minister for Women and Youth in the federal cabinet.

In November 1991, Merkel, with the support of the federal CDU, ran for the state leadership of the CDU in the state of Brandenburg, which neighbours Berlin. She lost to Ulf Fink.{{Cite news |title=Brandenburg: Merkels Union der Probleme |language=de-DE |work=Der Tagesspiegel Online |url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/potsdam/brandenburg/merkels-union-der-probleme-7386607.html |access-date=5 June 2023 |issn=1865-2263 |archive-date=5 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605115239/https://www.tagesspiegel.de/potsdam/brandenburg/merkels-union-der-probleme-7386607.html |url-status=live }} In June 1993, Merkel was elected leader of the CDU in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, succeeding her former mentor Günther Krause.{{Cite web |title=Mecklenburg-Vorpommern – Geschichte der CDU |url=https://www.kas.de/en/web/geschichte-der-cdu/mecklenburg-vorpommern |access-date=5 June 2023 |website=Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung |language=en |archive-date=5 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605115238/https://www.kas.de/en/web/geschichte-der-cdu/mecklenburg-vorpommern |url-status=live }}

Although Merkel had little interest in the political position as such, it has been described as instrumental in building her early political image.{{Cite magazine|url=https://time.com/time-person-of-the-year-2015-angela-merkel/|title=Time Person of the Year 2015: Angela Merkel|last=Vick|first=Karl|year=2015|magazine=Time|access-date=30 April 2017|archive-date=29 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190529051902/http://time.com/time-person-of-the-year-2015-angela-merkel/|url-status=live}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/12/01/quiet-german|title=The Astonishing Rise of Angela Merkel|last=Packer|first=George|date=1 December 2014|magazine=The New Yorker|access-date=30 April 2017|archive-date=9 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209073023/http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/12/01/quiet-german|url-status=live}} During her tenure, the government codified the right to preschool education, although the law only went into effect in 1996.{{Cite journal |date=2018 |title=Zur Rechtsprechung in Bezug auf Kindertagesbetreuung nach § 24 SGB VIII |trans-title=On the jurisprudence of childcare pursuant to § 24 SGB VIII |url=https://www.bundestag.de/resource/blob/569574/caa1dd6c9010844748c3739925c8c2ac/WD-9-055-18-pdf-data.pdf |journal=Wissenschaftliche Dienste (Deutscher Bundestag) |language=de |page=10 |archive-date=27 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127121033/https://www.bundestag.de/resource/blob/569574/caa1dd6c9010844748c3739925c8c2ac/WD-9-055-18-pdf-data.pdf |url-status=live}} In June 1992, § 218 of the StGB, which governed abortion rights, was rewritten to allow abortions until the 12th week of pregnancy.{{Cite web |date=24 May 2023 |title=Vor 30 Jahren: Reform für Schwangerschaftsabbrüche gekippt |url=https://www.bpb.de/kurz-knapp/hintergrund-aktuell/521296/vor-30-jahren-reform-fuer-schwangerschaftsabbrueche-gekippt/ |access-date=23 June 2023 |website=bpb.de |language=de |archive-date=25 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230525004054/https://www.bpb.de/kurz-knapp/hintergrund-aktuell/521296/vor-30-jahren-reform-fuer-schwangerschaftsabbrueche-gekippt/ |url-status=live}} Though she was personally opposed to abortion at the time, Merkel abstained during the vote on the bill.{{Cite web |title=Angela Merkel |url=https://www.fembio.org/biographie.php/frau/biographie/angela-merkel/ |access-date=23 June 2023 |website=www.fembio.org |language=de |archive-date=27 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241227073933/https://www.fembio.org/biographie.php/frau/biographie/angela-merkel/ |url-status=live}} The law was later overturned by the Federal Constitutional Court on the basis that there must be a general prohibition of abortion.{{Cite web |title=Bundesgesetzblatt BGBl. Online-Archiv 1949 – 2022 |url=https://www.bgbl.de/xaver/bgbl/start.xav?start=//*%5B@attr_id=%27bgbl193s0820.pdf%27%5D#__bgbl__//*%5B@attr_id=%27bgbl193s0820.pdf%27%5D__1687518539514 |access-date=23 June 2023 |website=www.bgbl.de |language=de |archive-date=25 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230525023106/https://www.bgbl.de/xaver/bgbl/start.xav?start=//*%5B@attr_id=%27bgbl193s0820.pdf%27%5D#__bgbl__//*%5B@attr_id=%27bgbl193s0820.pdf%27%5D__1687518539514 |url-status=live}}

File:KAS-Merkel, Angela-Bild-14890-2.jpg

In 1994, she was promoted to the position of Minister for the Environment and Nuclear Safety, which gave her greater political visibility and a platform on which to build her personal political career. As one of Kohl's protégées and his youngest Cabinet Minister, she was frequently referred to by Kohl as "my girl" ({{lang|de|mein Mädchen}}).{{cite news|language=de |work=Der Spiegel |date=30 May 2005 |url=http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/0,1518,357997,00.html |title=Kohls unterschätztes Mädchen |trans-title=Kohl's Underestimated Girl |access-date=19 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090718100625/http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/0%2C1518%2C357997%2C00.html |archive-date=18 July 2009 |url-status = live|last1=Weiland |first1=Severin }} During this period, she was closely mentored by Kohl.

As Minister of the Environment, Merkel was instrumental in setting up the United Nations 1995 Berlin Climate Change Conference. She is often credited as having brought about its most notable result, the first international commitment to a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.{{Cite web|title=Gerade auf LeMO gesehen: LeMO Biografie: Angela Merkel |url=https://www.hdg.de/lemo/biografie/angela-merkel.html |access-date=23 June 2023 |website=www.hdg.de |language=de |archive-date=12 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230612221411/https://www.hdg.de/lemo/biografie/angela-merkel.html |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=Berlin Climate Change Conference – March 1995 |url=https://unfccc.int/event/berlin-climate-change-conference-march-1995 |access-date=23 June 2023 |website=unfccc.int |archive-date=23 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230623102743/https://unfccc.int/event/berlin-climate-change-conference-march-1995 |url-status=live}} Around this time, she also first hired Beate Baumann, who would remain a close advisor to Merkel. Merkel's performance as Minister of the Environment was criticised as "pitiful" by Gerhard Schröder.

File:KAS-Sympathiewerbung-Bild-12009-1.jpg and Matthias Wissmann]]

After the Kohl Government was defeated at the 1998 election, Merkel was appointed Secretary-General of the CDU. The 1998 election had widespread impacts; it was the CDU's worst performance in a federal election since 1949, and it resulted in Germany's first post-war left-wing government,{{efn |Although some previous governments had been led by the SPD, this was the first government to contain only left-wing parties.}} led by the SPD.{{Cite journal |last=James |first=Peter |date=2000 |title=The 1998 German Federal Election |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1111/1467-9256.00108 |journal=Politics |language=en |volume=20 |issue=1 |pages=33–38 |doi=10.1111/1467-9256.00108 |s2cid=143788580 |issn=0263-3957 |access-date=21 June 2023 |archive-date=20 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230220054824/https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1111/1467-9256.00108 |url-status=live }}

In the wake of this defeat on the federal level, Merkel oversaw a string of CDU election victories in six out of seven state elections in 1999, breaking the long-standing SPD-Green hold on the Bundesrat. Following a party funding scandal that compromised many leading figures of the CDU{{snd}}including Kohl himself and his successor as CDU Leader, Wolfgang Schäuble{{snd}}Merkel criticised her former mentor publicly and advocated a fresh start for the party without him.

On 10 April 2000, Merkel was elected to replace Schäuble as Chairperson of the CDU, becoming the first female leader of a German party.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G4QnDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT117 |title=Angela Merkel: Europe's Most Influential Leader|last=Qvortrup|first=Matthew|date=2016|publisher=The Overlook Press|isbn=978-1-4683-1408-3|language=en|archive-date=26 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126210103/https://books.google.com/books?id=G4QnDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT117 |url-status=live}} Her election surprised many observers, as her personality offered a contrast to the party she had been elected to lead; Merkel is a centrist Protestant originating from predominantly Protestant northern Germany, while the CDU is a male-dominated, socially conservative party with strongholds in western and southern Germany, and its Bavarian sister party, the CSU, has deep Catholic roots.{{Cite web |last=Chase |first=Jefferson |date=4 December 2021 |title=Bavaria's Christian Social Union: What you need to know |url=https://www.dw.com/en/bavarias-christian-social-union-what-you-need-to-know/a-39192183 |access-date=5 June 2023 |website=dw.com |language=en |archive-date=5 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605115241/https://www.dw.com/en/bavarias-christian-social-union-what-you-need-to-know/a-39192183 |url-status=live }}

File:Angela Merkel and Vladimir Putin in Moscow 2002.jpg in Moscow, 8 February 2002]]

Following Merkel's election as CDU Leader, the CDU did not obtain electoral victories in subsequent state elections. In February 2001, her rival Friedrich Merz voiced his intention to become Gerhard Schröder's main challenger for Chancellorship in the 2002 election. Merkel's ambition to become Chancellor was well-known, but she lacked the support of the most influential members within her own party. Rival candidate and leader of the CSU Edmund Stoiber was much more popular within the party at the time. In a private negotiation that came to be known as the {{ill |Wolfratshausen Breakfast |de |Wolfratshauser Frühstück |lt=Wolfratshausen Breakfast,|v=sup}} Merkel agreed to cede the opportunity to challenge Schröder to Stoiber; in exchange, she was to become leader of the CDU/CSU faction in the Bundestag following the election.Barry Turner (ed.) The Statesman's Yearbook 2015: The Politics, Cultures and Economies of the World, Springer 2014 p. 516{{Cite web |date=11 January 2022 |title=Angela Merkel lässt Edmund Stoiber Kanzlerkandidat werden |url=https://www.swr.de/swr2/wissen/archivradio/angela-merkel-laesst-edmund-stoiber-kanzlerkandidat-werden-100.html |access-date=25 June 2023 |website=swr.online |language=de |archive-date=22 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422233615/https://www.swr.de/swr2/wissen/archivradio/angela-merkel-laesst-edmund-stoiber-kanzlerkandidat-werden-100.html |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |date=15 October 2012 |title=Stoiber & Merkel: Das gab es zum Frühstück in Wolfratshausen |url=https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article109416019/Das-gab-es-zum-Fruehstueck-in-Wolfratshausen.html |access-date=25 June 2023 |website=Die Welt |language=de |archive-date=25 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230625104811/https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article109416019/Das-gab-es-zum-Fruehstueck-in-Wolfratshausen.html |url-status=live}} Although pre-election polling had indicated that voters strongly favoured Stoiber, he went on to lose the election by a thin margin. The election campaign was dominated by the Iraq War. While Chancellor Schröder had made clear he would not join the war in Iraq,{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/09/23/germany.0700/ |title=Schroeder wins second term |work=CNN |date=23 September 2002 |access-date=18 May 2021 |archive-date=23 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323164545/http://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/09/23/germany.0700/ |url-status=live }} Merkel was in support of the war at the time, although she later claimed that she had opposed it.{{Cite web |date=30 July 2016 |title=Merkel speaks; DW checks the facts |url=https://www.dw.com/en/angela-merkel-spoke-in-berlin-and-dw-checked-the-facts/a-19439266 |access-date=5 June 2023 |website=dw.com |language=en |archive-date=5 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605115238/https://www.dw.com/en/angela-merkel-spoke-in-berlin-and-dw-checked-the-facts/a-19439266 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Merkel's Other Legacy |url=https://dgap.org/en/research/publications/merkels-other-legacy |access-date=5 June 2023 |website=dgap.org |archive-date=5 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605115240/https://dgap.org/en/research/publications/merkels-other-legacy |url-status=live }}

After Stoiber's defeat in 2002, in addition to her role as CDU Leader, Merkel became Leader of the Opposition in the Bundestag, as had been agreed upon between her and Stoiber. Friedrich Merz, who had held the post prior to the 2002 election, was eased out to make way for Merkel.{{cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/opposition-meltdown-the-great-disintegration-act-a-324300.html|title=Opposition meltdown: The great disintegration act|work=Der Spiegel|date=22 October 2004|access-date=28 November 2015|archive-date=10 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010140141/http://www.spiegel.de/international/opposition-meltdown-the-great-disintegration-act-a-324300.html|url-status=live}}

Merkel supported a substantial reform agenda for Germany's economic and social system and was considered more pro-market than her own party (the CDU). She advocated German labour law changes, specifically removing barriers to laying off employees and increasing the allowed number of work hours in a week. She argued that existing laws made the country less competitive, because companies could not easily control labour costs when business was slow.{{cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/0,1518,249207,00.html |title=Merkel fordert längere Arbeitszeit |language=de |newspaper=Der Spiegel |date=18 May 2003 |access-date=27 August 2011 |archive-date=13 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080613150234/http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/0%2C1518%2C249207%2C00.html |url-status = live}}

Merkel argued that Germany should phase out nuclear power less quickly than the Schröder administration had planned.{{cite news|url=http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NP_Merkel_Nuclear_phase_out_is_wrong_1006081.html|title=Merkel: Nuclear phase-out is wrong|newspaper=World Nuclear News|date=10 June 2008|access-date=27 August 2011|archive-date=16 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616040957/http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NP_Merkel_Nuclear_phase_out_is_wrong_1006081.html|url-status = live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-nuclear-phaseout-explained/a-39171204 |date=15 June 2017 |first=Rebecca |last=Staudenmaier |title=Germany's nuclear phase-out explained |work=DW |access-date=27 July 2019 |archive-date=24 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200824011914/https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-nuclear-phaseout-explained/a-39171204 |url-status=live }}

Merkel advocated a strong transatlantic partnership and German-American friendship. In the spring of 2003, defying strong public opposition, Merkel came out in favour of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, describing it as "unavoidable". She also criticised the government's support for the accession of Turkey to the European Union, instead arguing in favour of a "privileged partnership".{{Cite web |title=Merkel Calls For Petition Against Turkish Membership |url=https://www.dw.com/en/merkel-calls-for-petition-against-turkish-membership/a-1356052 |access-date=26 June 2023 |website=dw.com |archive-date=27 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160127013235/https://www.dw.com/en/merkel-calls-for-petition-against-turkish-membership/a-1356052 |url-status=live}}

{{Main|First Merkel cabinet}}

On 30 May 2005, Merkel won the CDU/CSU nomination to challenge Chancellor Gerhard Schröder of the SPD in the 2005 federal elections. Her party began the campaign with a 21{{Endash}}point lead over the SPD in national opinion polls, although her personal popularity lagged behind that of the incumbent. However, the CDU/CSU campaign suffered{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/popular-flat-tax-movement-hits-brick-wall-in-germany/article986606/|title=Popular flat-tax movement hits brick wall in Germany|first=Doug|last=Saunders|work=The Globe and Mail|date=14 September 2005|access-date=28 November 2015|archive-date=6 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306041049/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/popular-flat-tax-movement-hits-brick-wall-in-germany/article986606/|url-status=live}} when Merkel, having made economic competence central to the CDU's platform, confused gross and net income twice during a televised debate.{{Cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/cdu-panne-brutto-netto-merkel-a-368085.html|title=CDU-Panne: Brutto, netto, Merkel|last=Volkery|first=Carsten|date=3 August 2005|newspaper=Der Spiegel|access-date=19 May 2017|archive-date=5 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205135102/http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/cdu-panne-brutto-netto-merkel-a-368085.html|url-status=live}} She regained some momentum after she announced that she would appoint Paul Kirchhof, a former judge at the German Constitutional Court and leading fiscal policy expert, as Minister of Finance.

Merkel and the CDU lost ground after Kirchhof proposed the introduction of a flat tax in Germany, again undermining the party's broad appeal on economic affairs.{{Cite book |last1=Crawford |first1=Alan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FJfLtLnhZkYC&pg=PT59 |title=Angela Merkel: A Chancellorship Forged in Crisis |last2=Czuczka |first2=Tony |date=12 June 2013 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-1-118-64109-5 |page=135 |archive-date=27 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127161704/https://books.google.com/books?id=FJfLtLnhZkYC&pg=PT59 |url-status=live}} This was compounded by Merkel's proposal to increase VAT{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/jul/12/germany.lukeharding|title=Merkel unveils tax-raising manifesto|last=Harding|first=Luke|date=11 July 2005|work=The Guardian|access-date=7 May 2017|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=2 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002220429/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/jul/12/germany.lukeharding|url-status=live}} to reduce Germany's deficit and fill the gap in revenue from a flat tax. The SPD were able to increase their support simply by pledging not to introduce flat taxes or increase VAT. Although Merkel's standing recovered after she distanced herself from Kirchhof's proposals, she remained considerably less popular than Schröder, who had been perceived as the more generally competent and trustworthy candidate.{{Cite journal |last1=Hilmer |first1=Richard |last2=Müller-Hilmer |first2=Rita |date=2006 |title=Die Bundestagswahl vom 18. September 2005: Votum für Wechsel in Kontinuität |trans-title=The Parliamentary Election of 18 September 2005: Verdict for a Change in Continuity |journal=Zeitschrift für Parlamentsfragen |language=German |issue=1/2006 |page=2}} The CDU's lead was down to 9 percentage points on the eve of the election, with Merkel having a significant lead in popularity based on opinion polls.{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4257010.stm|title=Germany votes in close election|date=18 September 2005|publisher=BBC|access-date=3 May 2017|archive-date=10 March 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060310044057/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4257010.stm|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4259052.stm|title=German election ends in stalemate|date=19 September 2005|publisher=BBC|access-date=5 May 2017|archive-date=18 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170318214116/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4259052.stm|url-status=live}} On 18 September 2005, Merkel's CDU/CSU and Schröder's SPD went head-to-head in the national elections, with the CDU/CSU winning 35.2% (CDU 27.8% / CSU 7.5%) of the second votes{{Efn|In the electoral system of Germany, "first votes" are cast for a constituency-level local representative, i.e. an individual, whereas "second votes" are cast for a party.}} to the SPD's 34.2%. The result was so close that both Schröder and Merkel initially claimed victory. Neither the SPD{{Endash}}Green coalition nor the CDU/CSU and its preferred coalition partners, the Free Democratic Party, held enough seats to form a majority in the Bundestag. A grand coalition between the CDU/CSU and SPD would face the challenge of both parties demanding the chancellorship. However, after three weeks of negotiations, the two parties reached a deal for a grand coalition whereby Merkel would become Chancellor and the SPD would hold 8 of the 16 seats in the cabinet.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4325600.stm |title=Merkel named as German chancellor |work=BBC News |date=10 October 2005 |access-date=27 August 2011 |archive-date=23 September 2013 |url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130923013433/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4325600.stm }} The deal was approved by both parties at party conferences on 14 November 2005.{{cite news |date=14 November 2005 |title=German parties back new coalition |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4434812.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111191948/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4434812.stm |archive-date=11 January 2009}}

Merkel was elected Chancellor by the majority of delegates (397 to 217) in the newly assembled Bundestag on 22 November 2005, but 51 members of the governing coalition voted against her.{{cite news |date=22 November 2005 |title=Merkel becomes German chancellor |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4458430.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051209014210/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4458430.stm |archive-date=9 December 2005}} Reports at the time indicated that the grand coalition would pursue a mix of policies, some of which differed from Merkel's political platform as leader of the opposition and candidate for Chancellor. The coalition's intent was to cut public spending whilst increasing VAT (from 16 to 19%), social insurance contributions and the top rate of income tax.{{cite news|title=German coalition poised for power |date=11 November 2005 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4429518.stm |work=BBC News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051125031009/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4429518.stm |archive-date=25 November 2005 |url-status = live}}

When announcing the coalition agreement, Merkel stated that the main aim of her government would be to reduce unemployment, and that it was this issue on which her government would be judged.{{cite news|title=Merkel defends German reform plan |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4431262.stm |date=12 November 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060315055446/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4431262.stm |url-status = live|archive-date=15 March 2006 }}

Reform of the German healthcare system was a salient issue during the 2005 election; the previous system had been criticised as inefficient and overly bureaucratic.{{Cite news |date=4 July 2006 |title=Letter from Berlin: A Sickly Compromise for German Healthcare Reform |language=en |work=Der Spiegel |url=https://www.spiegel.de/international/letter-from-berlin-a-sickly-compromise-for-german-healthcare-reform-a-425036.html |access-date=6 August 2023 |issn=2195-1349 |archive-date=6 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806181144/https://www.spiegel.de/international/letter-from-berlin-a-sickly-compromise-for-german-healthcare-reform-a-425036.html |url-status=live}} After a significant period of negotiations, a deal was passed in 2006. While this agreement was described as having "saved the coalition government", it was also widely criticised as ineffectual. The deal also increased the tax burden on employers and their publicly insured employees.{{Cite news |date=5 October 2006 |title=German Health Reform: Merkel Announces a Deal, Averts a Crisis |language=en |work=Der Spiegel |url=https://www.spiegel.de/international/german-health-reform-merkel-announces-a-deal-averts-a-crisis-a-440924.html |access-date=6 August 2023 |issn=2195-1349 |archive-date=9 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609001250/https://www.spiegel.de/international/german-health-reform-merkel-announces-a-deal-averts-a-crisis-a-440924.html |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=German Health Care Reform: Mission Impossible? |url=https://www.dw.com/en/german-health-care-reform-mission-impossible/a-2117345 |access-date=6 August 2023 |website=dw.com |language=en |archive-date=20 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820183733/https://www.dw.com/en/german-health-care-reform-mission-impossible/a-2117345 |url-status=live}} The 2006 round of reforms introduced the "health insurance duty", which establishes that individuals must be insured either through the public insurance system or through private insurance firms and accordingly cannot be uninsured.{{Cite web |title=Personal Responsibility for Health — Developments Under the German Healthcare Reform 2007 on JSTOR |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/43ff418d-949c-3e2d-b7fa-d6eb41c8e135 |access-date=6 August 2023 |website=www.jstor.org |language=en |archive-date=3 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231103022413/https://www.jstor.org/stable/43ff418d-949c-3e2d-b7fa-d6eb41c8e135 |url-status=live}} The reforms also targeted preventive healthcare as a priority, particularly with regards to eldercare.

{{Main|European debt crisis|2008 financial crisis}}

{{See also|Greek government-debt crisis#Germany's_role_in_Greece}}

On 4 October 2008, following the Irish Government's decision to guarantee all deposits in private savings accounts, a move she had strongly criticised,{{cite news |author=Dougherty, Carter |date=5 October 2008 |title=Germany guarantees all private bank accounts |newspaper=Forbes |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/05/business/worldbusiness/05iht-hypo.4.16708030.html |url-status=live |access-date=6 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140423001915/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/05/business/worldbusiness/05iht-hypo.4.16708030.html |archive-date=23 April 2014}} Merkel said there were no plans for the German Government to do the same. The following day, Merkel stated that the government would guarantee private savings account deposits, after all.{{cite news |last=Whitlock |first=Craig |date=6 October 2008 |title=Germany to guarantee Private Bank Accounts |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/05/AR2008100500816.html |url-status=live |access-date=6 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110151109/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/05/AR2008100500816.html |archive-date=10 January 2014}} However, two days later, on 6 October 2008, it emerged that the pledge was simply a political move that would not be backed by legislation.{{cite news |date=6 October 2008 |title=Bank uncertainty hits UK shares |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7654182.stm |url-status=live |access-date=6 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007064831/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7654182.stm |archive-date=7 October 2008}} Most other European governments eventually either raised the limits or promised to guarantee savings in full.

The German government stepped in to assist the mortgage company Hypo Real Estate with a bailout. The deal was agreed upon on 6 October, with German banks contributing €30 billion and the Bundesbank €20 billion to an emergency credit line.{{cite news |last=Parkin |first=Brian |author2=Suess, Oliver |date=6 October 2008 |title=Hypo Real Gets EU50 Billion Government-Led Bailout |newspaper=Bloomberg |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=amxJTktF7JMs |url-status=dead |access-date=6 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022213102/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=amxJTktF7JMs |archive-date=22 October 2012}}

At the time of the Greek government-debt crisis, Germany was the largest creditor of the Greek government, giving it significant negotiating power.{{Cite news |last=Rankin |first=Jennifer |date=23 September 2021 |title=The crisis manager: Angela Merkel's double-edged European legacy |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/23/the-crisis-manager-angela-merkels-double-edged-european-legacy |access-date=25 June 2023 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=23 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923141710/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/23/the-crisis-manager-angela-merkels-double-edged-european-legacy |url-status=live}} Merkel is often credited as having "saved the Euro", primarily due to her coordinating role in the development of debt relief policy.{{Cite news |date=12 September 2021 |title=Merkel legacy: EU's queen with a tarnished crown |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58498231 |access-date=25 June 2023 |archive-date=13 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913010507/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58498231 |url-status=live}} The austerity measures imposed on debtors such as Greece, which were a significant part of Merkel's position in the negotiations, have been criticised as overly harsh by some observers.{{Cite web |date=23 September 2021 |title=Auf Wiedersehen, Angela: How Merkel has shaped Europe and Germany |url=https://www.euronews.com/2021/09/23/angela-merkel-europe-s-fiercest-crisis-manager-likely-to-leave-a-void |access-date=25 June 2023 |website=euronews |archive-date=23 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923113318/https://www.euronews.com/2021/09/23/angela-merkel-europe-s-fiercest-crisis-manager-likely-to-leave-a-void |url-status=live}} Critics also highlighted Germany's own debt management issues.{{Cite news |date=21 June 2011 |title=Economic Historian: 'Germany Was Biggest Debt Transgressor of 20th Century' |language=en |work=Der Spiegel |url=https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/economic-historian-germany-was-biggest-debt-transgressor-of-20th-century-a-769703.html |access-date=25 June 2023 |issn=2195-1349 |archive-date=11 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511205116/https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/economic-historian-germany-was-biggest-debt-transgressor-of-20th-century-a-769703.html |url-status=live}} A Bloomberg opinion piece noted that "irresponsible borrowers can't exist without irresponsible lenders"; accordingly, "Germany's banks were Greece's enablers."{{Cite news |date=23 May 2012 |title=Hey, Germany: You Got a Bailout, Too |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2012-05-23/merkel-should-know-her-country-has-been-bailed-out-too |access-date=25 June 2023 |archive-date=19 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119170336/https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2012-05-23/merkel-should-know-her-country-has-been-bailed-out-too |url-status=live}}

In the course of the 2008 financial crisis, the Merkel cabinet increased the budget of the Kurzarbeit programme significantly and extended the permitted duration of such contracts from 6 months to 18 months.{{Cite news |date=24 November 2009 |title=Krisenhilfe: Merkel will Kurzarbeit bis Ende 2010 verlängern |language=de |work=Der Spiegel |url=https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/krisenhilfe-merkel-will-kurzarbeit-bis-ende-2010-verlaengern-a-663048.html |access-date=26 July 2023 |issn=2195-1349 |archive-date=9 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309154845/https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/krisenhilfe-merkel-will-kurzarbeit-bis-ende-2010-verlaengern-a-663048.html |url-status=live}} Although similar provisions had existed previously, the Merkel cabinet's expansion of the programme was widely praised and is credited with having saved 500,000 jobs during the 2008 financial crisis.{{Cite news |date=14 September 2021 |title=Marking Merkel |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/graphics/GERMANY-POLITICS/MERKEL/mopankkkova/ |access-date=26 July 2023 |archive-date=20 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221220134537/https://www.reuters.com/graphics/GERMANY-POLITICS/MERKEL/mopankkkova/ |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=Kurzarbeit: Germany's Short-Time Work Benefit |url=https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2020/06/11/na061120-kurzarbeit-germanys-short-time-work-benefit |access-date=26 July 2023 |website=IMF |archive-date=8 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708022836/https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2020/06/11/na061120-kurzarbeit-germanys-short-time-work-benefit |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |work=OECD |date=2009 |title=Employment Outlook 2009 – How does GERMANY compare? |url=https://www.oecd.org/employment/emp/43707146.pdf |archive-date=24 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924133418/https://www.oecd.org/employment/emp/43707146.pdf |url-status=live}}

Merkel's CDU was re-elected in 2009 with an increased number of seats and could form a governing coalition with the FDP. After brief negotiations, the second Merkel cabinet was sworn in on 28 October 2009.{{cite news|url=http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4836127,00.html |title=Merkel's new cabinet sworn in |publisher=Deutsche Welle |date=30 October 2009 |access-date=1 November 2009 |last=Penfold |first=Chuck |url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100601171452/http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0%2C%2C4836127%2C00.html |archive-date=1 June 2010 }} In early 2011, Merkel's approval ratings plummeted, resulting in heavy losses in state elections for her party.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/feb/21/angela-merkel-crushed-hamburg-polls |title=Angela Merkel's party crushed in Hamburg poll |newspaper=The Guardian |date=21 February 2011 |access-date=23 August 2011 |location=London |first=Helen |last=Pidd |archive-date=24 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110224215222/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/21/angela-merkel-crushed-hamburg-polls |url-status = live}} An August 2011 poll found her coalition had only 36% support compared to a rival potential coalition's 51%.{{cite web |url=http://www.zimbio.com/Chancellor+Angela+Merkel/articles/tvb0mRYv0RF/German+opposition+hits+11+year+high+polls |title=German opposition hits 11-year high in polls |publisher=France 24 |date=5 August 2011 |access-date=23 August 2011 |archive-date=11 October 2011 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011051049/http://www.zimbio.com/Chancellor%2BAngela%2BMerkel/articles/tvb0mRYv0RF/German%2Bopposition%2Bhits%2B11%2Byear%2Bhigh%2Bpolls }} Notwithstanding the effects of the 2008 financial crisis, unemployment sank below 3 million unemployed people in 2011.{{cite news |date=15 November 2013 |title=Arbeitsmarkt: Arbeitslosigkeit 2011 meist unter drei Millionen |language=de |trans-title=Labour market: Unemployment in 2011 mostly below three million |website=Focus online |agency=dpa |url=https://www.focus.de/finanzen/news/arbeitsmarkt-arbeitslosigkeit-2011-meist-unter-drei-millionen_aid_566257.html |url-status=live |access-date=18 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210531112414/https://www.focus.de/finanzen/news/arbeitsmarkt-arbeitslosigkeit-2011-meist-unter-drei-millionen_aid_566257.html |archive-date=31 May 2021}}

Following increased debate on the subject in the summer of 2010,{{Cite news |last=Dempsey |first=Judy |date=2 June 2010 |title=Germany Sees No Need for Obligatory Military Conscription |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/03/world/europe/03iht-germany.html |access-date=29 June 2023 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=29 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629123140/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/03/world/europe/03iht-germany.html |url-status=live}} the German government announced plans to abolish conscription in Germany, making the {{lang|de|Bundeswehr}} a volunteer military, in November 2010.{{Cite news |last=Connolly |first=Kate |date=22 November 2010 |title=Germany to abolish compulsory military service |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/nov/22/germany-abolish-compulsory-military-service |access-date=29 June 2023 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=17 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130917223043/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/nov/22/germany-abolish-compulsory-military-service |url-status=live}} The decision was finalised in December that year,{{Cite web |title=Conscription to end |url=https://www.dw.com/en/germany-to-suspend-compulsory-military-service/a-6315122 |access-date=29 June 2023 |website=dw.com |archive-date=31 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150731013031/https://www.dw.com/en/germany-to-suspend-compulsory-military-service/a-6315122 |url-status=live}} and conscription was suspended on 1 July 2011.{{Cite news |date=4 January 2011 |title=The World from Berlin: 'End of an Era' as Germany Suspends Conscription |language=en |work=Der Spiegel |url=https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/the-world-from-berlin-end-of-an-era-as-germany-suspends-conscription-a-737668.html |access-date=29 June 2023 |issn=2195-1349 |archive-date=10 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130110020820/https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/the-world-from-berlin-end-of-an-era-as-germany-suspends-conscription-a-737668.html |url-status=live}} Although somewhat popular at the time, the decision has later come under scrutiny, particularly following to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.{{Cite web |title=Germany debates reintroducing military conscription |url=https://www.dw.com/en/germany-debates-reintroducing-military-conscription/a-64601831 |access-date=29 June 2023 |website=dw.com |archive-date=3 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203165249/https://www.dw.com/en/germany-debates-reintroducing-military-conscription/a-64601831 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |date=1 March 2022 |title=Ukraine war raises spectre of conscription in Germany |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220301-ukraine-war-raises-spectre-of-conscription-in-germany |access-date=29 June 2023 |website=France 24 |archive-date=1 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301135316/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220301-ukraine-war-raises-spectre-of-conscription-in-germany |url-status=live}} It has also been criticised in conjunction with Germany's financial commitments to NATO.{{Cite web |title=Angela Merkel's anti-NATO legacy |url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/may/12/angela-merkels-anti-nato-legacy/ |access-date=29 June 2023 |website=The Washington Times |archive-date=13 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190513042652/https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/may/12/angela-merkels-anti-nato-legacy/ |url-status=live}} In 2023, 61% of Germans said that they were in favour of reestablishing conscription.{{Cite web |title=Most Germans want compulsory military service return — poll |url=https://www.dw.com/en/most-germans-want-compulsory-military-service-return-poll/a-64935279 |access-date=29 June 2023 |website=dw.com |archive-date=9 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230309205155/https://www.dw.com/en/most-germans-want-compulsory-military-service-return-poll/a-64935279 |url-status=live}}

Responding to a budget deficit of {{Currency|11|EUR|linked=no}} billion in the public healthcare system in 2009, the Merkel government passed widely unpopular healthcare reforms in 2010. The changes reduced healthcare spending in certain areas and increased employer and employee contributions to 15.5% of gross wages.{{Cite news |date=12 November 2010 |title=Germany passes unpopular healthcare reform |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-healthcare-reform-idUSTRE6AB3TL20101112 |access-date=6 August 2023 |archive-date=19 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160219184258/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-healthcare-reform-idUSTRE6AB3TL20101112 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=Healthcare reform |url=https://www.dw.com/en/germany-passes-controversial-health-care-reform-bill/a-6223367 |access-date=6 August 2023 |website=dw.com |language=en |archive-date=7 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180607060814/https://www.dw.com/en/germany-passes-controversial-health-care-reform-bill/a-6223367 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |date=12 November 2010 |title=Germany passes Merkel's unpopular healthcare reform |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2010/11/12/germany-passes-merkels-unpopular-healthcare-reform.html |access-date=6 August 2023 |website=CNBC |language=en |archive-date=6 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806181834/https://www.cnbc.com/2010/11/12/germany-passes-merkels-unpopular-healthcare-reform.html |url-status=live}} The reforms also established that future contribution increases would only affect the contributions by employers, which was criticised by opposition parties and trade unions.

File:Unterzeichnung des Koalitionsvertrages der 18. Wahlperiode des Bundestages (Martin Rulsch) 079.jpg

In the election of September 2013, Merkel won one of the most decisive victories in German history, achieving the best result for the CDU/CSU since reunification and coming within five seats of the first absolute majority in the Bundestag since 1957.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/22/angela-merkel-wins-third-term-germany|title=German election: Angela Merkel secures historic third win|last1=Connolly|first1=Kate|date=23 September 2013|work=The Guardian|access-date=26 March 2017|last2=Oltermann|first2=Philip|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=27 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327081844/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/22/angela-merkel-wins-third-term-germany|url-status=live}} However, their preferred coalition partner, the FDP, failed to enter parliament for the first time since 1949, being below the minimum of 5% of second votes required to enter parliament.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/angela-merkel-reaches-deal-with-spd-to-form-german-grand-coalition-8966125.html |first=Geir |last=Moulson |agency=AP |title=Angela Merkel reaches deal with SPD to form German-Grand-Coalition |work=The Independent |date=27 November 2013 |access-date=23 December 2017 |archive-date=23 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223220011/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/angela-merkel-reaches-deal-with-spd-to-form-german-grand-coalition-8966125.html |url-status=live }}

The CDU/CSU turned to the SPD to form the third grand coalition in postwar German history and the second under Merkel's leadership. The third Cabinet of Angela Merkel was sworn in on 17 December 2013.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bundestag.de/dokumente/textarchiv/2013/48311241_kw51_kanzlerwahl_nachher/214202|title=Deutscher Bundestag – Bundeskanzlerin und Bundeskabinett vereidigt|last=Müller|first=Volker|website=Deutscher Bundestag|language=de|access-date=14 December 2018|archive-date=2 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702022311/http://www.bundestag.de/dokumente/textarchiv/2013/48311241_kw51_kanzlerwahl_nachher/214202|url-status=live}}

Merkel scored well in opinion polls on her handling of the recent euro crisis (69% rated her performance as good rather than poor), and her approval rating reached an all-time high of 77% in February 2012 and again in July 2014.{{cite news|title=Union dank Merkel im Umfrage-Aufwind |url=http://www.stern.de/politik/deutschland/union-dank-merkel-im-umfrage-aufwind-1784909.html |newspaper=Stern |language=de |date=10 February 2012 |access-date=12 February 2012 |archive-date=12 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212234414/http://www.stern.de/politik/deutschland/union-dank-merkel-im-umfrage-aufwind-1784909.html |url-status = dead}}

{{Main|2015 European migrant crisis}}

{{See also|Wir schaffen das}}

File:Pedro Sánchez y Angela Merkel 05.jpg and Merkel in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, 2018]]

Throughout the course of the European migrant crisis, Merkel encouraged cooperation between EU member states, urging that Europe needs to act "as a whole".{{Cite news |date=31 August 2015 |title=Migrant crisis: Merkel warns of EU 'failure' |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34108224 |url-status=live |access-date=4 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604101630/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34108224 |archive-date=4 June 2023}}

In late August 2015, at the height of the crisis, Merkel's government suspended the Dublin Regulation, which stipulated that asylum seekers must seek asylum in the first EU country they arrive in. Merkel announced that Germany would also process asylum applications from Syrian refugees if they had come to Germany through other EU countries.{{cite news |last1=Holehouse |first1=Matthew |last2=Huggler |first2=Justin |last3=Vogt |first3=Andrea |date=24 August 2015 |title=Germany drops EU rules to allow in Syrian refugees |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/11821822/Germany-drops-EU-rules-to-allow-in-Syrian-refugees.html |url-status=live |access-date=16 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170612103828/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/11821822/Germany-drops-EU-rules-to-allow-in-Syrian-refugees.html |archive-date=12 June 2017}} That year, nearly 1.1 million asylum seekers entered Germany.{{Cite web |date=6 January 2016 |title=Germany: 1.1 million refugee arrivals in 2015 |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/germany-1-1-million-refugee-arrivals-in-2015/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605115239/https://www.politico.eu/article/germany-1-1-million-refugee-arrivals-in-2015/ |archive-date=5 June 2023 |access-date=5 June 2023 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=8 December 2015 |title=Germany on course to accept one million refugees in 2015 |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/08/germany-on-course-to-accept-one-million-refugees-in-2015 |url-status=live |access-date=5 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605115238/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/08/germany-on-course-to-accept-one-million-refugees-in-2015 |archive-date=5 June 2023 |issn=0261-3077}} Merkel coined the phrase {{lang|de|Wir schaffen das}} (literally 'We can do this') around this time.{{Cite web |date=19 August 2016 |title=The phrase that haunts Angela Merkel |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/the-phrase-that-haunts-angela-merkel/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328012508/https://www.politico.eu/article/the-phrase-that-haunts-angela-merkel/ |archive-date=28 March 2023 |access-date=5 June 2023 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}{{Cite news |last1=Bannas |first1=Günter |last2=Berlin |date=31 December 2015 |title=Neujahrsansprache von Merkel: Wir schaffen das, denn Deutschland ist ein starkes Land |language=de |work=FAZ.NET |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/inland/neujahrsansprache-von-merkel-wir-schaffen-das-denn-deutschland-ist-ein-starkes-land-13991331.html |url-status=live |access-date=5 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308114851/https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/inland/neujahrsansprache-von-merkel-wir-schaffen-das-denn-deutschland-ist-ein-starkes-land-13991331.html |archive-date=8 March 2023 |issn=0174-4909}}

Junior coalition partner and Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel said that Germany could take in 500,000 refugees annually for the next several years."[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34185353 Migrant crisis: Germany 'can take 500,000 asylum seekers a year'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020215118/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34185353|date=20 October 2020}}". BBC News. 8 September 2015. German opposition to the government's admission of the new wave of migrants was strong and coupled with a rise in anti-immigration protests.{{cite news |last1=Hill |first1=Jenny |date=30 July 2013 |title=Immigration fuels rising tension in Germany |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-33700624 |url-status=live |access-date=18 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150819003253/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-33700624 |archive-date=19 August 2015}} Merkel insisted that Germany had the economic strength to cope with the influx of migrants and reiterated that there is no legal maximum limit on the number of migrants Germany can take.{{cite web |date=5 September 2015 |title=Germany: 'No Limit' To Refugees We'll Take In |url=http://news.sky.com/story/1547326/germany-no-limit-to-refugees-well-take-in |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410074018/http://news.sky.com/story/1547326/germany-no-limit-to-refugees-well-take-in |archive-date=10 April 2016 |access-date=6 September 2015 |publisher=Sky News}} In September 2015, enthusiastic crowds across the country welcomed arriving refugees and migrants.{{cite web |date=6 September 2015 |title=Germans welcome thousands of newly arrived refugees |url=http://www.dw.com/en/germans-welcome-thousands-of-newly-arrived-refugees/a-18696722 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200908024110/https://www.dw.com/en/germans-welcome-thousands-of-newly-arrived-refugees/a-18696722 |archive-date=8 September 2020 |access-date=16 September 2020 |publisher=Deutsche Welle}}

Horst Seehofer, leader of the Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU){{Em dash}}the sister party of Merkel's Christian Democratic Union{{Em dash}}and then-Bavarian Minister President, attacked Merkel's policies.{{cite news |date=6 September 2015 |title=Merkel splits conservative bloc with green light to refugees |work=Reuters |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-europe-migrants-germany-criticism-idUKKCN0R60T920150906 |url-status=dead |access-date=10 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151009204535/http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/09/06/uk-europe-migrants-germany-criticism-idUKKCN0R60T920150906 |archive-date=9 October 2015}} Seehofer criticised Merkel's decision to allow in migrants, saying that "[they were] in a state of mind without rules, without system and without order because of a German decision."{{cite news |last=Delcker |first=Janosch |date=23 September 2015 |title=Viktor Orbán, Bavaria's hardline hero |work=Politico |url=http://www.politico.eu/article/viktor-orban-bavaria-hardline-hero-seehofer-migration-borders/ |url-status=live |access-date=10 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119194404/https://www.politico.eu/article/viktor-orban-bavaria-hardline-hero-seehofer-migration-borders/ |archive-date=19 January 2018}} Seehofer argued that as many as 30% of asylum seekers arriving in Germany claiming to be from Syria are in fact from other countries.{{Cite web |title=Refugee crisis: Many migrants falsely claim to be Syrians, Germany says as EU tries to ease tensions |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/11891219/Refugee-crisis-Many-migrants-falsely-claim-to-be-Syrians-Germany-says-as-EU-tries-to-ease-tensions.html |access-date=25 June 2023 |website=www.telegraph.co.uk|date=25 September 2015 |archive-date=27 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927233152/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/11891219/Refugee-crisis-Many-migrants-falsely-claim-to-be-Syrians-Germany-says-as-EU-tries-to-ease-tensions.html |url-status=live}} He argued for a punitive reduction in EU funding for member countries that rejected mandatory refugee quotas."[http://www.dw.com/en/berlin-calls-for-sanctions-on-eu-states-that-reject-refugee-quotas/a-18714957 Berlin calls for sanctions on EU states that reject refugee quotas] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200908024236/https://www.dw.com/en/berlin-calls-for-sanctions-on-eu-states-that-reject-refugee-quotas/a-18714957|date=8 September 2020}}". Deutsche Welle. 15 September 2015. Meanwhile, Yasmin Fahimi, secretary-general of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the junior partner of the ruling coalition, praised Merkel's policy allowing migrants in Hungary to enter Germany as "a strong signal of humanity to show that Europe's values are valid also in difficult times". Merkel's approval rating dropped to 54% in October 2015, the lowest it had been since 2011.{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-02/merkel-approval-rating-drops-to-four-year-low-on-refugee-crisis |first=Rainer |last=Buergin |title=Merkel Approval Rating Drops to Four-Year Low on Refugee Crisis |work=Bloomberg |date=2 October 2015 |access-date=18 May 2021 |archive-date=7 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307231318/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-02/merkel-approval-rating-drops-to-four-year-low-on-refugee-crisis |url-status=live }}

In November 2015, there were talks inside the governing coalition to stop family unification for migrants for two years and to establish "Transit Zones" on the border. Additionally, there were plans to provide housing to migrants with a low likelihood of getting approved for asylum until the processing of their application. This led to increased tensions between the CSU, who were generally in favour of these measures and threatened to leave the coalition without them, and the SPD, who opposed them; Merkel agreed to the measures.{{cite web |title=Germany: Coalition split on transit zones |url=http://www.dw.com/en/germany-coalition-split-on-transit-zones/av-18824248 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151104013756/http://www.dw.com/en/germany-coalition-split-on-transit-zones/av-18824248 |archive-date=4 November 2015 |access-date=4 November 2015 |work=DW.COM}} The November 2015 Paris attacks prompted a reevaluation of the German government's stance on EU migration policy.{{cite news |last1=Emric |first1=Eldar |last2=Nellas |first2=Demetri |date=14 November 2015 |title=Paris Attacks Provoke Fresh Migrant Fears in Europe |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/11/14/world/europe/ap-eu-germany-migrants-rising-tensions.html |url-status=live |access-date=14 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118052008/http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/11/14/world/europe/ap-eu-germany-migrants-rising-tensions.html |archive-date=18 November 2015}} While she did not directly limit the number of immigrants, Merkel tightened asylum policy in Germany, for example through more thorough vetting of migrants with respect to internal safety and security.{{cite news |author=Alison Smale |date=28 November 2015 |title=Merkel, While Refusing to Halt Migrant Influx, Works to Limit It |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/29/world/europe/merkel-whilerefusing-to-halt-migrant-influx-works-to-limit-it.html |url-status=live |access-date=28 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220606021248/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/29/world/europe/merkel-whilerefusing-to-halt-migrant-influx-works-to-limit-it.html |archive-date=6 June 2022}}

In August 2016, following the Würzburg train attack in Germany and various other Islamist terror attacks in Europe, Merkel's approval rating dropped to 47%.{{cite web |url=https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/deutschlandtrend-585.html |date=4 August 2016 |title=ARD-Deutschlandtrend: Mehrheit gegen EU-Beitritt der Türkei |last=Ehni |first=Ellen |website=tagesschau.de |language=de-DE |access-date=9 November 2016 |archive-date=23 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190523163553/https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/deutschlandtrend-585.html |url-status=live }} Half of Germans did not want her to serve a fourth term in office, with only 42% in favour of another term in office.{{cite news|last1=Turner|first1=Zeke|last2=Fairless|first2=Tom|title=Half of Germans Oppose Fourth Term for Angela Merkel, Survey Finds|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/half-of-germans-oppose-fourth-term-for-angela-merkel-survey-finds-1472379679|access-date=29 August 2016|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=28 August 2016|archive-date=28 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828185015/http://www.wsj.com/articles/half-of-germans-oppose-fourth-term-for-angela-merkel-survey-finds-1472379679|url-status=live}} In a poll from October that year, her approval rating was found to have risen again; 54% of Germans were found to be satisfied with the work of Merkel as Chancellor.{{Cite news|url=https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/deutschlandtrend-651.html|first=Ellen|last=Ehni|title=ARD-DeutschlandTrend: Merkel überwindet ihr Tief|date=6 October 2016|publisher=ARD-tagesschau|language=de-DE|trans-title=ARD-DeutschlandTrend: Merkel overcomes her low point.|access-date=9 November 2016|archive-date=13 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413113354/https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/deutschlandtrend-651.html|url-status=live}} According to another poll taken in November 2016, 59% were to found to be in favour of a renewed Chancellorship candidature in 2017.{{Cite news |url=https://www.wn.de/Welt/Politik/2016/11/2594749-Forsa-Umfrage-Mehrheit-fuer-erneute-Kanzlerkandidatur-Merkels |agency=dpa |title=Forsa-Umfrage: Mehrheit für erneute Kanzlerkandidatur Merkels |newspaper=Westfälische Nachrichten |language=de-DE |trans-title=Forsa Poll: Majority for renewed chancellor candidature of Merkel |access-date=9 November 2016 |archive-date=18 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518201319/https://www.wn.de/Welt/Politik/2016/11/2594749-Forsa-Umfrage-Mehrheit-fuer-erneute-Kanzlerkandidatur-Merkels |url-status=dead }} According to a poll carried out shortly after the 2016 Berlin truck attack, 56% of Germans named Merkel as a political leader they trusted to solve their country's problems.{{Cite news|url=http://www.morgenpost.de/politik/inland/article209090001/Fluechtlingskrise-wird-2017-die-groesste-Herausforderung.html|title=Flüchtlingskrise wird 2017 die größte Herausforderung|last1=Gaugele|first1=Jochen|date=27 December 2016|last2=Kammholz|first2=Karsten|newspaper=Berliner Morgenpost|language=de-DE|trans-title=Refugee crisis to be biggest challenge in 2017|access-date=27 December 2016|archive-date=23 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423190451/https://www.morgenpost.de/politik/inland/article209090001/Fluechtlingskrise-wird-2017-die-groesste-Herausforderung.html|url-status=live}}

File:Drehscheibe Köln-Bonn Airport - Ankunft Flüchtlinge 5. Oktober 2015-0308.jpg

In October 2016, Merkel travelled to Mali and Niger. The diplomatic visit took place to discuss how their governments could improve conditions which caused people to flee those countries and how illegal migration through and from these countries could be reduced.{{cite magazine |date=10 October 2016 |title=Hunderte Millionen gegen die Flucht |url=http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/angela-merkel-in-niger-hunderte-millionen-gegen-die-flucht-a-1116005.html |url-status=live |magazine=Der Spiegel |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012215938/http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/angela-merkel-in-niger-hunderte-millionen-gegen-die-flucht-a-1116005.html |archive-date=12 October 2016 |access-date=13 October 2016}}

The migrant crisis spurred right-wing electoral preferences across Germany with the Alternative for Germany (AfD) gaining 12% of the vote in the 2017 German federal election. These developments prompted debates over the reasons for increased right-wing populism in Germany. Some researchers have argued that increased right-wing preferences are a result of the European migrant crisis, particularly the increasingly common perception that refugees constitute an ethnic and cultural threat to Germany.{{cite journal |last1=Lucassen |first1=Geertje |last2=Lubbers |first2=Marcel |date=2012 |title=Who Fears What? Explaining Far-Right-Wing Preference in Europe by Distinguishing Perceived Cultural and Economic Threats |journal=Comparative Political Studies |volume=45 |issue=5 |doi=10.1177/0010414011427851 |s2cid=145071392 |issn = 0010-4140 }}

Some observers have described Merkel's policymaking with respect to the migrant crisis as a success.{{Cite news |last=Oltermann |first=Philip |date=30 August 2020 |title=How Angela Merkel's great migrant gamble paid off |language=en-GB |work=The Observer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/30/angela-merkel-great-migrant-gamble-paid-off |url-status=live |access-date=4 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604101628/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/30/angela-merkel-great-migrant-gamble-paid-off |archive-date=4 June 2023 |issn=0029-7712}} In 2022, the United Nations' High Commissioner for Refugees granted Merkel the Nansen Award for her "courage and compassion" during the crisis.{{Cite web |title=Ex-German leader Angela Merkel wins UN refugee prize |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/10/4/ex-german-leader-angela-merkel-wins-un-refugee-prize |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604101630/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/10/4/ex-german-leader-angela-merkel-wins-un-refugee-prize |archive-date=4 June 2023 |access-date=4 June 2023 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=4 October 2022 |title=Merkel wins UN refugee prize for 'courage and compassion' during migrant crisis |url=https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20221004-merkel-wins-un-refugee-prize-for-courage-and-compassion-during-migrant-crisis |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604101630/https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20221004-merkel-wins-un-refugee-prize-for-courage-and-compassion-during-migrant-crisis |archive-date=4 June 2023 |access-date=4 June 2023 |website=France 24 |language=en}} However, Merkel has also faced significant criticism, particularly with regards to her policymaking early in the crisis, which some critics describe as hypocritically unilateral.{{Cite web |date=28 June 2018 |title=How Merkel broke the EU |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/germany-broke-the-eu-migration-crisis-refugees/ |access-date=29 June 2023 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}{{Cite news |title=Merkel faces tide of criticism as asylum scandal overruns Germany |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/merkel-faces-tide-of-criticism-as-asylum-scandal-overruns-germany-1.3518383 |access-date=29 June 2023 |newspaper=The Irish Times |archive-date=4 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180604103935/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/merkel-faces-tide-of-criticism-as-asylum-scandal-overruns-germany-1.3518383 |url-status=live}}

In the 2017 federal election, Merkel led her party to victory for the fourth time. However, both the CDU/CSU and the SPD received a significantly lower proportion of the vote than they did in 2013, and the CDU/CSU subsequently attempted to form a coalition with the FDP and Greens.{{cite news |agency=dpa |url=https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/jamaika-koalition-angela-merkel-laedt-fuer-mittwoch-zu-sondierungsgespraechen-a-1172064.html|title=Koalition: Merkel lädt ab Mittwoch kommender Woche zu Jamaika-Gesprächen|date=9 October 2017|work=Der Spiegel|access-date=28 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171015015957/http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/jamaika-koalition-angela-merkel-laedt-fuer-mittwoch-zu-sondierungsgespraechen-a-1172064.html|archive-date=15 October 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite web | last1=Paun | first1=Carmen | title=Angela Merkel Ready to Move Forward with Jamaica Coalition | url=http://www.politico.eu/article/angela-merkel-ready-to-move-forward-with-jamaica-coalition/ | date=7 October 2017 | work=Politico | access-date=9 October 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171007204453/http://www.politico.eu/article/angela-merkel-ready-to-move-forward-with-jamaica-coalition/ | archive-date=7 October 2017 | url-status=dead }} The SPD announced that they would go into the Opposition, both due to their loss of popular support and because the idea of another grand coalition was widely unpopular at the time.{{Cite web |date=12 July 2021 |title=Die Bundestagswahl 2017 und ihre Folgen |url=https://www.bpb.de/shop/zeitschriften/izpb/336545/die-bundestagswahl-2017-und-ihre-folgen/ |access-date=4 June 2023 |website=bpb.de |language=de |archive-date=4 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604093937/https://www.bpb.de/shop/zeitschriften/izpb/336545/die-bundestagswahl-2017-und-ihre-folgen/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=20 November 2017 |title=SPD: Martin Schulz schließt große Koalition aus |language=de |work=Der Spiegel |url=https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/jamaika-aus-spd-will-neuwahlen-und-stellt-sich-gegen-grosse-koalition-a-1179376.html |access-date=4 June 2023 |issn=2195-1349 |archive-date=4 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604093937/https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/jamaika-aus-spd-will-neuwahlen-und-stellt-sich-gegen-grosse-koalition-a-1179376.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Positionierung CDU und SPD – Keine Große Koalition um jeden Preis |url=https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/positionierung-cdu-und-spd-keine-grosse-koalition-um-jeden-100.html |access-date=4 June 2023 |website=Deutschlandfunk |date=27 November 2017 |language=de |archive-date=4 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604093937/https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/positionierung-cdu-und-spd-keine-grosse-koalition-um-jeden-100.html |url-status=live }}

The FDP eventually withdrew from negotiations with the CDU/CSU, leading to a stalemate.{{cite news|last1=Connolly|first1=Kate|title=Germany's SPD is ready for talks to end coalition deadlock|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/24/germany-spd-ready-for-talks-to-end-political-crisis-angela-merkel|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=24 November 2017|location=Berlin|date=24 November 2017|archive-date=24 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171124134203/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/24/germany-spd-ready-for-talks-to-end-political-crisis-angela-merkel|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |date=23 June 2021 |title=Bundestagswahl 2017: Die ewigen Sondierungsgespräche |url=https://www.fr.de/politik/bundestagswahl-2017-ewige-sondierungsgespraeche-90819103.html |access-date=4 June 2023 |website=www.fr.de |language=de |archive-date=4 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604093945/https://www.fr.de/politik/bundestagswahl-2017-ewige-sondierungsgespraeche-90819103.html |url-status=live }} The German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier subsequently appealed successfully to the SPD to change their hard stance against coalition with the CDU/CSU, and the SPD agreed to a third grand coalition with the CDU/CSU.{{cite news|title=Bundestag wählt Angela Merkel zum vierten Mal zur Bundeskanzlerin|date=14 March 2018|newspaper=Neue Zürcher Zeitung|url=https://www.nzz.ch/international/bundestag-waehlt-angela-merkel-zum-vierten-mal-zur-bundeskanzlerin-ld.1365837|agency=dpa|access-date=5 April 2019|archive-date=3 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603170016/https://www.nzz.ch/international/bundestag-waehlt-angela-merkel-zum-vierten-mal-zur-bundeskanzlerin-ld.1365837|url-status=live}} The negotiations leading up to this agreement were the longest in German post-war history, lasting almost six months.{{Cite web |url=https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-never-ending-coalition-talks-break-record/a-41868786 |title=Germany's never-ending coalition talks break record |date=20 December 2017 |work=Deutsche Welle |access-date=14 December 2018 |archive-date=15 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215022314/https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-never-ending-coalition-talks-break-record/a-41868786 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/04/germany-social-democrats-spd-vote-in-favour-of-coalition-angela-merkel|title=Merkel secures fourth term in power after SPD backs coalition deal|last=Oltermann|first=Philip|date=4 March 2018|work=The Guardian|access-date=14 December 2018|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=15 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215070203/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/04/germany-social-democrats-spd-vote-in-favour-of-coalition-angela-merkel|url-status=live}}

A YouGov survey published in late December 2017 found that just 36% of all respondents wanted Merkel to stay at the helm until 2021, while half of those surveyed voters called for a change at the top before the end of the legislature.{{Cite news |url=https://www.handelsblatt.com/english/politics/cdu-leadership-waning-support-puts-merkels-future-in-doubt/23573560.html |first=Daniel |last=Delhaes |date=28 December 2017 |title=Waning support puts Merkel's future in doubt |newspaper=Handelsblatt Global |access-date=29 December 2017 |archive-date=30 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130172208/https://www.handelsblatt.com/english/politics/cdu-leadership-waning-support-puts-merkels-future-in-doubt/23573560.html?ticket=ST-121866-QC2Tbfr4YXYWIcBgFQ0S-cas01.example.org |url-status=live }}

The Fourth Merkel cabinet was sworn in on 14 March 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bundestag.de/dokumente/textarchiv/2018/kw11-de-kanzlerwahl-546336|date=14 March 2018|title=Deutscher Bundestag – Angela Merkel mit 364 Stimmen zur Bundeskanzlerin gewählt|last=Müller|first=Volker|website=Deutscher Bundestag|language=de|access-date=14 December 2018|archive-date=12 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712161024/https://www.bundestag.de/dokumente/textarchiv/2018/kw11-de-kanzlerwahl-546336|url-status=live}}

{{Main|2018 German government crisis}}

As part of the newly formed government, the CSU's Horst Seehofer took over the role of Interior Minister.{{Cite news |date=16 March 2018 |title=Facing far-right challenge, minister says Islam 'doesn't belong' to Germany |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-politics-islam-idUSKCN1GS12V |url-status=live |access-date=3 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603190447/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-politics-islam-idUSKCN1GS12V |archive-date=3 June 2023}} Seehofer announced that he had a "master plan for faster asylum procedures, and more consistent deportations."{{cite news |date=11 March 2018 |title=Germany's future interior minister Horst Seehofer vows to increase deportations |publisher=Deusche Welle |url=http://www.dw.com/en/germanys-future-interior-minister-horst-seehofer-vows-to-increase-deportations/a-42925097 |url-status=live |access-date=16 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316023833/http://www.dw.com/en/germanys-future-interior-minister-horst-seehofer-vows-to-increase-deportations/a-42925097 |archive-date=16 March 2018}} Under Seehofer's plan, Germany would immediately reject prospective immigrants who had already been deported or were subject to an entry ban. Additionally, the police would be instructed to turn away all applicants who had previously registered elsewhere in the EU, no matter if these countries agreed to take them back.{{Cite web |title=Germany: Interior minister gives Merkel ultimatum on migrants |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/6/19/germany-interior-minister-gives-merkel-ultimatum-on-migrants |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130172114/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/6/19/germany-interior-minister-gives-merkel-ultimatum-on-migrants |archive-date=30 November 2021 |access-date=12 November 2020 |website=Al Jazeera}}{{cite web |date=18 June 2018 |title=Germany's interior minister Horst Seehofer wants quick action on migrants|work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/world/germany-s-interior-minister-horst-seehofer-wants-quick-action-on-migra-dgtl-238561 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618194454/https://www.telegraphindia.com/world/germany-s-interior-minister-horst-seehofer-wants-quick-action-on-migra-dgtl-238561 |archive-date=18 June 2018 |access-date=24 August 2021}} Merkel feared that unilaterally sending migrants back to neighbouring countries without seeking a multilateral European agreement could endanger the stability of the European Union.{{Cite news |last1=Rankin |first1=Jennifer |last2=Oltermann |first2=Philip |date=28 June 2018 |title=Future of EU hinges on solving migration issue, says Merkel |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/28/future-of-eu-hinges-on-solving-migration-issue-says-merkel |url-status=live |access-date=8 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109080406/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/28/future-of-eu-hinges-on-solving-migration-issue-says-merkel |archive-date=9 January 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}

In June 2018, Seehofer issued an ultimatum to Merkel; as Interior Minister, he could unilaterally implement the policy without her support. Although he eventually agreed to cooperate with Merkel while she negotiated with other EU member countries, he went on to reject the EU agreement that she obtained.{{Cite web |title=Merkel handed two-week ultimatum in migrant row |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/6/19/germany-interior-minister-gives-merkel-ultimatum-on-migrants|date=19 June 2018 |access-date=25 June 2023 |website=Al Jazeera |archive-date=22 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422131511/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/6/19/germany-interior-minister-gives-merkel-ultimatum-on-migrants |url-status=live}} On 1 July 2018, during a meeting with party leadership, Seehofer declared his intention to resign from his position in protest.{{Cite web |title=Merkel coalition crisis: Seehofer offers to quit over migration |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/7/2/merkel-coalition-crisis-seehofer-offers-to-quit-over-migration |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130172132/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/7/2/merkel-coalition-crisis-seehofer-offers-to-quit-over-migration |archive-date=30 November 2021 |access-date=12 November 2020 |website=Al Jazeera|date=2 July 2018}}{{Cite web |date=2 July 2018 |title=Germany migrants: Key Merkel ally Seehofer threatens to quit |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-44674945 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919222235/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-44674945 |archive-date=19 September 2020 |access-date=16 September 2020 |work=BBC News}}{{Cite web |last1=Oltermann |first1=Philip |last2=Chrisafis |first2=Angelique |last3=Connolly |first3=Kate |date=2 July 2018 |title=Merkel and Seehofer make last-ditch bid for migration compromise |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/01/merkel-fights-to-save-coalition-from-division-over-migration |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109031344/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/01/merkel-fights-to-save-coalition-from-division-over-migration |archive-date=9 November 2020 |access-date=12 November 2020 |work=The Guardian}} During the night of 2 July 2018, Seehofer and Merkel announced they had settled their differences and agreed to instead accept a compromise of tighter border control.{{cite news |last1=Thomas |first1=Andrea |last2=Marson |first2=James |date=2 July 2018 |title=Germany's Merkel Secures Deal on Migrants, Averts Government Collapse |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/merkel-faces-showdown-over-migrant-policy-1530539359 |url-status=live |access-date=16 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918135210/https://www.wsj.com/articles/merkel-faces-showdown-over-migrant-policy-1530539359 |archive-date=18 September 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Schmidt |first1=Nadine |last2=Vonberg |first2=Judith |date=2 July 2018 |title=Germany's Merkel makes deal with interior minister on migration dispute |work= CNN International Edition |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/07/02/europe/merkel-seehofer-government-intl/index.html?no-st=1530570558 |url-status=live |access-date=3 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703050420/https://edition.cnn.com/2018/07/02/europe/merkel-seehofer-government-intl/index.html?no-st=1530570558 |archive-date=3 July 2018}} As a result of the agreement, Seehofer agreed to not resign,{{Cite web |date=3 July 2018 |title=Germany migrants: Merkel averts coalition government split |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-44685727 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109041134/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-44685727 |archive-date=9 November 2020 |access-date=16 September 2020 |work=BBC News}} and to negotiate bilateral agreements with the specific countries himself. Seehofer received some criticism for his stance in the crisis.{{Cite web |date=6 September 2018 |title=Migration: Kritik an Horst Seehofer |url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/seehofer-kritik-1.4118914 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219125748/https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/seehofer-kritik-1.4118914 |archive-date=19 February 2021 |access-date=8 June 2023 |website=Süddeutsche.de |language=de}}{{Cite news |date=6 September 2018 |title=Scharfe Kritik an Horst Seehofers Äußerungen über Migration |language=de |work=FAZ.NET |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/inland/scharfe-kritik-an-horst-seehofers-aeusserungen-ueber-migration-15773928.html |url-status=live |access-date=8 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206015557/https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/inland/scharfe-kritik-an-horst-seehofers-aeusserungen-ueber-migration-15773928.html |archive-date=6 December 2022 |issn=0174-4909}}

{{Main|COVID-19 pandemic in Germany|German government response to the COVID-19 pandemic}}

File:Mateusz Morawiecki at the June 2021 EC Meeting (3).jpg and Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in Brussels, 24 June 2021]]

In the initial phases of the pandemic, Germany established a crisis team to manage Germany's containment policy and pandemic response.{{Cite web |title=How Germany is preparing for COVID-19 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-how-germany-is-preparing-for-a-possible-pandemic/a-52557646 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221216234357/https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-how-germany-is-preparing-for-a-possible-pandemic/a-52557646 |archive-date=16 December 2022 |access-date=3 June 2023 |website=dw.com |language=en}} In late February 2020, referring to this crisis team, Merkel recommended an approach characterised by moderation and an avoidance of extreme or universal measures ({{Lang|de|Maß und Mitte}}).{{Cite web |date=29 February 2020 |title=Coronavirus: Bundesregierung legt Krisen-Leitlinien fest – Merkel für Vorgehen mit "Maß und Mitte" – WELT |url=https://www.welt.de/vermischtes/article206221797/Coronavirus-Bundesregierung-legt-Krisen-Leitlinien-fest-Merkel-fuer-Vorgehen-mit-Mass-und-Mitte.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200312213859/https://www.welt.de/vermischtes/article206221797/Coronavirus-Bundesregierung-legt-Krisen-Leitlinien-fest-Merkel-fuer-Vorgehen-mit-Mass-und-Mitte.html |archive-date=12 March 2020 |access-date=3 June 2023 |website=DIE WELT |language=de}}

On 18 March 2020, Merkel gave a widely publicised speech on the COVID-19 pandemic, comparing its challenges to the Second World War:{{Cite web |title=An address to the nation by Federal Chancellor Merkel |url=https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/themen/coronavirus/statement-chancellor-1732296 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603190447/https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/themen/coronavirus/statement-chancellor-1732296 |archive-date=3 June 2023 |access-date=3 June 2023 |website=Bundesregierung |language=de}}

{{Blockquote|text=Please also take this seriously. Since German reunification, no, since the Second World War, there has not been a challenge for our country in which action in a spirit of solidarity on our part was so important.|author=Angela Merkel}}

The speech was well-received both nationally and internationally, receiving widespread attention and an award for "speech of the year".{{Cite web |title=Merkel COVID address honored as 'Speech of the Year' |url=https://www.dw.com/en/germany-angela-merkels-coronavirus-address-honored-as-speech-of-the-year/a-55984728 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410092103/https://www.dw.com/en/germany-angela-merkels-coronavirus-address-honored-as-speech-of-the-year/a-55984728 |archive-date=10 April 2023 |access-date=3 June 2023 |website=dw.com |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=18 March 2020 |title=Angela Merkel: Coronavirus is Germany's biggest postwar challenge |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/angela-merkel-coronavirus-is-germany-biggest-postwar-challenge/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407211030/https://www.politico.eu/article/angela-merkel-coronavirus-is-germany-biggest-postwar-challenge/ |archive-date=7 April 2023 |access-date=3 June 2023 |website=POLITICO|first=Joshua|last=Posaner |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Dempsey |first=Judy |date=24 March 2020 |title=Why Merkel's Coronavirus Address Matters |work=Carnegie Europe |url=https://carnegieeurope.eu/2020/03/24/why-merkel-s-coronavirus-address-matters-pub-81357 |url-status=live |access-date=3 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521090642/https://carnegieeurope.eu/2020/03/24/why-merkel-s-coronavirus-address-matters-pub-81357 |archive-date=21 May 2023}}

On 6 April 2020, Merkel stated: "In my view ... the European Union is facing the biggest test since its foundation and member states must show greater solidarity so that the bloc can emerge stronger from the economic crisis unleashed by the pandemic".{{Cite web |author1=Markus Wacket |author2=Andreas Rinke |date=6 April 2020 |title=Coronavirus pandemic is historical test for EU, Merkel says |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-germany-idUSKBN21O17F |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201215133917/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-germany-idUSKBN21O17F |archive-date=15 December 2020 |access-date=12 November 2020 |work=Reuters}} Merkel has won international plaudits for her handling of the pandemic in Germany.{{cite web |last=Oltermann |first=Philip |date=16 April 2020 |title=Angela Merkel draws on science background in Covid-19 explainer: German chancellor excels in describing epidemiological basis of lockdown exit strategy |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/16/angela-merkel-draws-on-science-background-in-covid-19-explainer-lockdown-exit |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421061253/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/16/angela-merkel-draws-on-science-background-in-covid-19-explainer-lockdown-exit |archive-date=21 April 2020 |access-date=21 April 2020 |work=The Guardian}}

Later that month, Merkel was praised for her accessible explanation of the basic reproduction number, which had been an important metric in the German government's pandemic response.{{Cite web |last=Bhalla |first=Jag |date=17 April 2020 |title=This viral Angela Merkel clip explains the risks of loosening social distancing too fast |url=https://www.vox.com/2020/4/17/21225916/coronavirus-in-germany-angela-merkel-lifting-lockdown |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603195519/https://www.vox.com/2020/4/17/21225916/coronavirus-in-germany-angela-merkel-lifting-lockdown |archive-date=3 June 2023 |access-date=3 June 2023 |website=Vox |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Oltermann |first=Philip |date=16 April 2020 |title=Angela Merkel draws on science background in Covid-19 explainer |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/16/angela-merkel-draws-on-science-background-in-covid-19-explainer-lockdown-exit |url-status=live |access-date=3 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421061253/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/16/angela-merkel-draws-on-science-background-in-covid-19-explainer-lockdown-exit |archive-date=21 April 2020 |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web |date=16 April 2020 |title=Angela Merkel gave one of the clearest explanations of how coronavirus transmission works |url=https://qz.com/1839030/angela-merkel-explains-how-coronavirus-transmission-works |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603195518/https://qz.com/1839030/angela-merkel-explains-how-coronavirus-transmission-works |archive-date=3 June 2023 |access-date=3 June 2023 |website=Quartz |language=en}} Merkel opposed mandatory vaccinations, instead stressing scientific literacy and education.{{Cite web |title=Merkel stresses COVID vaccine is key, but voluntary |url=https://www.dw.com/en/covid-angela-merkel-says-no-plans-for-mandatory-vaccines-in-germany/a-58250471 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407211030/https://www.dw.com/en/covid-angela-merkel-says-no-plans-for-mandatory-vaccines-in-germany/a-58250471 |archive-date=7 April 2023 |access-date=3 June 2023 |website=dw.com |language=en}}

During the German presidency of the European Council, Merkel spearheaded negotiations for the Next Generation EU reconstruction package.{{Cite web |date=4 February 2021 |title=Next Generation EU, Merkel's latest trick: good for Europe |url=https://aspeniaonline.it/next-generation-eu-merkels-latest-trick-good-for-europe/ |access-date=29 June 2023 |website=Aspenia Online |language=en-US}}

On 29 October 2018, Merkel announced that she would not seek reelection as leader of CDU at their party conference in December 2018, but intended to remain as chancellor until the 2021 German federal election was held. She stated that she did not plan to seek any political office after this. The resignations followed October setbacks for the CSU in the Bavarian state election and for the CDU in the Hessian state election.{{cite news |date=29 October 2018 |title=Angela Merkel to step down in 2021 |agency=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-46020745 |url-status=live |access-date=29 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181029200326/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-46020745 |archive-date=29 October 2018}}{{Cite web |last=Le Blond |first=Josie |date=29 October 2018 |title=German chancellor Angela Merkel will not seek re-election in 2021 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/29/angela-merkel-wont-seek-re-election-as-cdu-party-leader |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217163832/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/29/angela-merkel-wont-seek-re-election-as-cdu-party-leader |archive-date=17 December 2020 |access-date=29 October 2018 |website=The Guardian |language=en}} In August 2019, Merkel hinted that she might return to academia at the end of her term in 2021.{{Cite news |date=31 August 2019 |title=Merkel hints at return to academia after politics |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-politics-merkel-idUSKCN1VL0ER |url-status=live |access-date=1 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901093019/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-politics-merkel-idUSKCN1VL0ER |archive-date=1 September 2019}}

She decided not to suggest any person as her successor as leader of the CDU.{{Cite news |last1=Moulson |first1=Geir |last2=Rising |first2=David |date=29 October 2018 |title=Angela Merkel won't seek 5th term as German chancellor |language=en |agency=Associated Press |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/merkels-coalition-mulls-implications-german-state-vote-58820813 |url-status=dead |access-date=29 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181029113821/https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/merkels-coalition-mulls-implications-german-state-vote-58820813 |archive-date=29 October 2018}} However, political observers had long considered Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer as Merkel's protégé groomed for succession. This view was confirmed when Kramp-Karrenbauer – widely seen as the chancellor's favourite for the post – was voted to succeed Merkel as leader of the CDU in December 2018.{{Cite web |date=7 December 2018 |title=Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer elected to succeed Merkel as CDU leader |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/annegret-kramp-karrenbauer-elected-to-succeed-merkel-as-cdu-leader/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110125654/https://www.politico.eu/article/annegret-kramp-karrenbauer-elected-to-succeed-merkel-as-cdu-leader/ |archive-date=10 January 2021 |access-date=18 July 2019 |website=Politico}} Kramp-Karrenbauer's elevation to Defence Minister after Ursula von der Leyen's departure to become president of the European Commission also boosted her standing as Merkel's most likely candidate for succession.{{Cite web |last=Karnitschnig |first=Matthew |date=18 July 2019 |title=Angela Merkel's succession maneuver |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/angela-merkels-succession-maneuver-annegret-kramp-karrenbauer-germany-defense-minister-chancellor/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718034256/https://www.politico.eu/article/angela-merkels-succession-maneuver-annegret-kramp-karrenbauer-germany-defense-minister-chancellor/ |archive-date=18 July 2019 |access-date=18 July 2019 |website=Politico}} In 2019, media outlets speculated that Kramp-Karrenbauer might take over Merkel's position as Chancellor sooner than planned if the current governing coalition proved unsustainable.{{cite news |author=Torsten Krauel, Chefkommentator |date=12 March 2019 |title=Kanzlerin Kramp-Karrenbauer? Eine Gespensterdebatte |newspaper=Die Welt |publisher=Axel Springer SE (WELT und N24Doku), Berlin |url=https://www.welt.de/debatte/kommentare/article190169347/Merkel-Nachfolge-Kanzlerin-Kramp-Karrenbauer-Eine-Phantomdebatte.html |url-status=live |access-date=5 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410045146/https://www.welt.de/debatte/kommentare/article190169347/Merkel-Nachfolge-Kanzlerin-Kramp-Karrenbauer-Eine-Phantomdebatte.html |archive-date=10 April 2019}}{{cite news |date=11 March 2019 |title=Ich will, dass Angela Merkel Kanzlerin bleibt |publisher=Der Spiegel (online) |url=http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/cdu-annegret-kramp-karrenbauer-will-dass-angela-merkel-bundeskanzlerin-bleibt-a-1257313.html |url-status=live |access-date=5 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190319002423/http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/cdu-annegret-kramp-karrenbauer-will-dass-angela-merkel-bundeskanzlerin-bleibt-a-1257313.html |archive-date=19 March 2019}} The possibility was neither confirmed nor denied by the party.{{Cite news |title=Angela Merkel's coalition is in trouble. That means Europe is, too |language=en |newspaper=The Economist |url=https://www.economist.com/leaders/2018/10/20/angela-merkels-coalition-is-in-trouble-that-means-europe-is-too |url-status=live |access-date=25 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025071053/https://www.economist.com/leaders/2018/10/20/angela-merkels-coalition-is-in-trouble-that-means-europe-is-too |archive-date=25 October 2018}} In February 2020, Kramp-Karrenbauer announced that she would resign as party leader of the CDU in the summer, after party members in Thuringia defied official party lines and voted with Alternative for Germany to support an FDP candidate for minister-president.{{Cite news |date=10 February 2020 |title=Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer: Favourite to replace Merkel stands down |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-51441993 |url-status=live |access-date=17 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200211211338/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-51441993 |archive-date=11 February 2020}} Kramp-Karrenbauer was succeeded by Armin Laschet at the 2021 CDU leadership election.{{cite web |date=16 January 2021 |title=Pragmatic governor Laschet elected to lead Merkel's party |url=https://apnews.com/article/angela-merkel-national-elections-coronavirus-pandemic-elections-germany-2be065e51c2eb729d8b7b5ba8f23f183 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125140517/https://apnews.com/article/angela-merkel-national-elections-coronavirus-pandemic-elections-germany-2be065e51c2eb729d8b7b5ba8f23f183 |archive-date=25 January 2021 |access-date=10 March 2021 |publisher=Associated Press}}

In the 2021 federal election, the SPD won the most votes. This necessitated long negotiations among the various parties to form a government. On 23 November 2021, a new grand coalition was announced, with Olaf Scholz nominated to succeed Merkel.{{Cite web |title=Germany's SPD, FDP and Greens unveil governing coalition deal |url=https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-spd-fdp-and-greens-unveil-governing-coalition-deal/a-59915201 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211125140926/https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-spd-fdp-and-greens-unveil-governing-coalition-deal/a-59915201 |archive-date=25 November 2021 |access-date=25 November 2021 |website=DW.COM |language=en-GB}} Merkel continued to serve as chancellor until 8 December 2021, when Scholz was sworn in.{{Cite news |date=8 December 2021 |title=Olaf Scholz elected as Germany's new Chancellor, replacing Angela Merkel |website=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-08/olaf-scholz-elected-germanys-new-chancellor/100684978 |url-status=live |access-date=8 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220130194818/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-08/olaf-scholz-elected-germanys-new-chancellor/100684978 |archive-date=30 January 2022}} The constituency she had held since its establishment in the German reunification was won by Anna Kassautzki (SPD).{{Cite news|date=27 September 2021|title=Seat held by Merkel since 1990 won by SPD candidate born in 1993|author=Philip Oltermann|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/27/rival-spd-party-wins-district-held-angela-merkel-1990-anna-kassautzki|access-date=14 October 2021 |archive-date=27 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927113729/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/27/rival-spd-party-wins-district-held-angela-merkel-1990-anna-kassautzki |url-status=live}}

On 31 January 2022, less than two months after she left office, her long-time rival Friedrich Merz, who she beat in 2002 to become leader of the opposition, took over as leader of the CDU.{{cite web|url=https://www.economist.com/europe/2022/01/22/friedrich-merz-takes-over-as-leader-of-germanys-christian-democrats|title=Friedrich Merz takes over as leader of Germany's Christian Democrats|publisher=The Economist|date=22 January 2022|archive-date=20 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120165451/https://www.economist.com/europe/2022/01/22/friedrich-merz-takes-over-as-leader-of-germanys-christian-democrats |url-status=live}}

On 25 February 2022, only 24 hours after the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, Merkel told the DPA that she "condemned in the strongest terms [...] the war of aggression led by Russia, which marks a profound break in the history of post-Cold War Europe."{{cite news |last1=Weider |first1=Thomas |date=2 June 2022 |title=Angela Merkel condemns 'the barbaric war of aggression waged by Russia,' without introspection |publisher=Le Monde |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2022/06/02/angela-merkel-condemns-the-barbaric-war-of-aggression-waged-by-russia-without-introspection_5985477_4.html |url-status=live |access-date=21 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220610154538/https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2022/06/02/angela-merkel-condemns-the-barbaric-war-of-aggression-waged-by-russia-without-introspection_5985477_4.html |archive-date=10 June 2022}}

In April that year, a spokesperson for Merkel stated that she "stood by her position at the NATO summit in Bucharest in 2008", when she had opposed Ukraine's membership in the North Atlantic Alliance, a decision that had come under increased scrutiny.

On 1 June 2022, Merkel made her first semi-public comments about political affairs since leaving office, at a retirement party for {{ill |Reiner Hoffmann |de |lt=Reiner Hoffmann|v=sup}}, the president of the German Trade Union Confederation. She criticised the "blatant violation of international law by Russia", expressed solidarity with Ukraine, and argued that "peace and freedom can never be taken for granted."

On 7 June 2022, Merkel made her first public comments. In an interview with journalist {{ill |Alexander Osang |de |lt=Alexander Osang|v=sup}}, she defended her past decisions on Ukraine and called Putin's aggression,{{cite news |last1=Jackson |first1=Patrick |date=8 June 2022 |title=Ukraine war: Angela Merkel defends her record on Putin |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-61727450.amp |url-status=live |access-date=21 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220609092137/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-61727450.amp |archive-date=9 June 2022}}

{{blockquote |text=not just unacceptable, but also a major mistake from Russia... It's an objective breach of all international laws and of everything that allows us in Europe to live in peace at all. If we start going back through the centuries and arguing over which bit of territory should belong to whom, then we will only have war. That's not an option whatsoever.}}

She also said that by the end of her chancellorship in September 2021, it had been clear that Putin was moving in the direction of conflict and that he was finished with the Normandy Format talks.{{cite news |last1=Walsh |first1=Alistair |last2=Goldenberg |first2=Rina |date=7 June 2022 |title=Angela Merkel opens up on Ukraine, Putin and her legacy |publisher=Deutsche Welle |url=https://www.dw.com/en/angela-merkel-opens-up-on-ukraine-putin-and-her-legacy/a-62052345 |url-status=live |access-date=21 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220611105226/https://www.dw.com/en/angela-merkel-opens-up-on-ukraine-putin-and-her-legacy/a-62052345 |archive-date=11 June 2022}}

Following her retirement, Merkel wrote a memoir called Freedom ({{langr|de|Freiheit}}), with her longtime assistant and adviser, Beate Baumann. It was released on 26 November 2024 with the title Freedom: Memories 1954–2021. The book was published in 30 languages and consists of 736 pages.{{cite news |date=26 November 2024 |title=Angela Merkel defends open-door migrant policy, ties with Russia in new memoir |publisher=France 24 |url=https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20241126-angela-merkel-migrant-russia-memoir |access-date=30 January 2025}}{{cite news |date=1 December 2024 |title=Book excerpt: "Freedom: Memoirs 1954-2021" by Angela Merkel |publisher=CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/book-excerpt-freedom-memoirs-1954-2021-by-angela-merkel/ |access-date=30 January 2025}}

In January 2025, Merkel criticised Friedrich Merz for introducing a non-binding resolution supporting restrictions on immigration that passed in the Bundestag with the help of the AfD.{{cite news |date=30 January 2025 |title=Merkel criticizes German front-runner Merz over migration vote with far-right support |publisher=AP News |url=https://apnews.com/article/germany-merkel-merz-migration-far-right-afd-66af2fc359ecb2d82cdaeca9e27e2fb0 |access-date=30 January 2025}} Following the CDU/CSU's victory in the 2025 German federal election, Merkel attended the first round of voting in the Bundestag to elect Merz as Chancellor on 6 May 2025.{{Cite web |title=Germany's Merz becomes chancellor after surviving historic vote failure |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgp22zlrgko |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=BBC |language=en}}

{{Conservatism in Germany}}

{{Christian democracy sidebar}}

In October 2010, Merkel told a meeting of younger members of her conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party at Potsdam that attempts to build a multicultural society in Germany had "utterly failed",{{cite news|work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11559451 |title=Merkel says German multicultural society has failed |date=17 October 2010 |archive-date=17 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101017050644/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11559451 |url-status = live}} stating that: "The concept that we are now living side by side and are happy about it" does not work{{cite news|url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20101017/wl_afp/germanymuslimreligionimmigration |title=Merkel Says German Multi-Cultural Society Has Failed |publisher=Yahoo! News |first=Audrey |last=Kauffmann |date=17 October 2010 |access-date=18 December 2013 |archive-date=18 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101018203110/http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20101017/wl_afp/germanymuslimreligionimmigration |url-status = dead}} and "we feel attached to the Christian concept of mankind, that is what defines us. Anyone who doesn't accept that is in the wrong place here."{{cite news|title=Zentralrat der Juden kritisiert Seehofer: Debatte ist scheinheilig und hysterisch |language=de |url=http://www.swr.de/nachrichten/-/id=396/nid=396/did=7030978/166vg7v/index.htm |newspaper=Südwestrundfunk |access-date=21 October 2010 |quote=Wir fühlen uns dem christlichen Menschenbild verbunden, das ist das, was uns ausmacht. Wer das nicht akzeptiert, der ist bei uns fehl am Platz |archive-date=1 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131001195707/http://www.swr.de/nachrichten/-/id=396/nid=396/did=7030978/166vg7v/index.htm |url-status=dead}} She continued to say that immigrants should integrate and adopt Germany's culture and values. This added to a growing debate within Germany on the acceptable levels and mechanisms of immigration, its effects on Germany, and the degree to which Muslim immigrants had integrated into German society.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11532699 |date=17 October 2010 |work=BBC News |title=Germany's charged immigration debate |archive-date=14 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101014045042/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11532699 |url-status = live}}

Merkel is in favour of a "mandatory solidarity mechanism" for relocation of asylum-seekers from Italy and Greece to other EU member states as part of the long-term solution to Europe's migrant crisis.{{cite news |title=Merkel Losing Her Patience with Lack of EU Solidarity |url=https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/europe-s-refugee-disaster-merkel-losing-her-patience-with-lack-of-eu-solidarity-a-2a13fc6c-3fc3-4d86-9eb7-70f9c1b49ef0 |work=Der Spiegel |date=18 September 2020 |access-date=23 September 2020 |archive-date=24 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924024039/https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/europe-s-refugee-disaster-merkel-losing-her-patience-with-lack-of-eu-solidarity-a-2a13fc6c-3fc3-4d86-9eb7-70f9c1b49ef0 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Germany pushes for EU solidarity on migration – again |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-europe-migrants/germany-pushes-for-eu-solidarity-on-migration-again-idUSKCN26D12V |first1=Thomas |last1=Escritt |first2=Gabriela |last2=Baczynska |work=Reuters |date=22 September 2020 |access-date=18 May 2021 |archive-date=3 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203150412/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-europe-migrants/germany-pushes-for-eu-solidarity-on-migration-again-idUSKCN26D12V |url-status=live }}

File:Angela Merkel Barack Obama 2015-02-09.jpg in the Oval Office, 2015]]{{Main|Foreign policy of the Angela Merkel government|List of international trips made by Angela Merkel}}

Merkel's foreign policy has focused on strengthening European cooperation and international trade agreements. She and her governments have been closely associated with the change through trade ({{lang|de|Wandel durch Handel}}) policy.{{cite news |last1=Matthijs |first1=Matthias |last2=Kelemen |first2=R. Daniel |title=The Other Side of Angela Merkel |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/07/09/angela-merkel-german-chancellor-europe-trade-euro-refugees-crisis/ |access-date=27 May 2022 |publisher=Foreign Policy |date=9 July 2021 |archive-date=30 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220430055833/https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/07/09/angela-merkel-german-chancellor-europe-trade-euro-refugees-crisis/ |url-status=live }} For this, she has come under criticism, especially after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.{{cite news |last1=Karnitschnig |first1=Matthew |title=12 Germans who got played by Putin |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/blame-germany-russia-policy/ |access-date=27 May 2022 |publisher=Politico |date=5 May 2022 |archive-date=29 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220529010644/https://www.politico.eu/article/blame-germany-russia-policy/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Schulz |first1=Sven Christian |title=War der Westen naiv? |url=https://www.rnd.de/politik/war-der-westen-naiv-ES3APKTGJ5CGXLCP57MMYKUJ2M.html |access-date=27 May 2022 |publisher=Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland |date=5 April 2022 |archive-date=27 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527034758/https://www.rnd.de/politik/war-der-westen-naiv-ES3APKTGJ5CGXLCP57MMYKUJ2M.html |url-status=live }} Merkel has been widely described as the de facto leader of the European Union throughout her tenure as Chancellor.{{Cite magazine |title=TIME Person of the Year 2015: Angela Merkel |url=https://time.com/time-person-of-the-year-2015-angela-merkel/ |access-date=8 June 2023 |magazine=Time |archive-date=29 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190529051902/http://time.com/time-person-of-the-year-2015-angela-merkel/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last1=Giuffrida |first1=Angela |last2=Connolly |first2=Kate |last3=Henley |first3=Jon |date=3 October 2021 |title=Draghi, Scholz or Macron? Merkel's crown as Europe's leader up for grabs |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/03/draghi-scholz-or-macron-merkels-crown-as-europes-leader-up-for-grabs |access-date=8 June 2023 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=3 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603052636/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/03/draghi-scholz-or-macron-merkels-crown-as-europes-leader-up-for-grabs |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Angela Merkel |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/angela-merkel/ |access-date=8 June 2023 |website=Forbes |language=en |archive-date=25 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525025708/https://www.forbes.com/profile/angela-merkel/ |url-status=live }}

In 2015, with the absence of Stephen Harper, Merkel became the only leader to have attended every G20 meeting since the first in 2008, having been present at a record fifteen summits as of 2021. She hosted the twelfth meeting at the 2017 G20 Hamburg summit.{{cite news|title=G20-Gipfel in Hamburg: Merkel nennt erstmals Themen|url=https://www.abendblatt.de/politik/article208177485/G20-Gipfel-in-Hamburg-Merkel-nennt-erstmals-Themen.html|access-date=12 September 2016|newspaper=Hamburger Abendblatt|archive-date=3 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203055517/https://www.abendblatt.de/politik/article208177485/G20-Gipfel-in-Hamburg-Merkel-nennt-erstmals-Themen.html|url-status=live}}

Merkel favors the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union. In December 2012, she stated that its implementation depends on reforms in Ukraine.{{cite news|work=Kyiv Post |url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/politics/klitschko-ukraines-eu-prospects-depend-on-new-parliament-317148.html |title=Klitschko, Merkel discuss prospects for signing EU-Ukraine association agreement |agency=Interfax-Ukraine |date=5 December 2012 |archive-date=5 December 2012 |url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121205070507/http://www.kyivpost.com/content/politics/klitschko-ukraines-eu-prospects-depend-on-new-parliament-317148.html }}

Merkel expressed support for Israel's right to self-defence in the context of the 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict. She telephoned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on 9 July to condemn "without reservation rocket fire on Israel".{{cite web |last=Shamah |first=David |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-pounds-gaza-targets-after-rocket-barrage-hits-as-far-north-as-hadera/#at_22:15 |title=Hamas rockets reach the north, Abbas charges Israel with genocide |newspaper=The Times of Israel |date=6 July 2014 |access-date=7 June 2020 |archive-date=7 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607204208/https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-pounds-gaza-targets-after-rocket-barrage-hits-as-far-north-as-hadera/#at_22:15 |url-status=live }}

On 20 June 2018, which was World Refugee Day, Merkel said that there had been "no moral or political justification" for the post-war expulsion of ethnic Germans from Central and Eastern European countries.{{cite news |title=Merkel calls Sudeten German expulsion "immoral", drawing Czech ire |url=http://www.radio.cz/en/section/curraffrs/merkel-calls-sudeten-german-expulsion-immoral-drawing-czech-ire |work=Czech Radio |date=21 June 2018 |access-date=22 June 2018 |archive-date=30 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130172217/https://english.radio.cz/merkel-calls-sudeten-german-expulsion-immoral-drawing-czech-ire-8157867 |url-status=live }}

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, 2013, Merkel said that Europe had only 7% of the global population and produced only 25% of the global GDP, but that it accounted for almost 50% of global social expenditure. She went on to say that Europe could only maintain its prosperity by being innovative and measuring itself against the best.{{cite web |url=http://www.bundesregierung.de/ContentArchiv/DE/Archiv17/Reden/2013/01/2013-01-24-merkel-davos.html |title=Bundesregierung {{pipe}} Rede von Bundeskanzlerin Merkel beim Jahrestreffen 2013 des World Economic Forum |language=de |publisher=Bundesregierung.de |date=24 January 2013 |access-date=24 February 2016 |archive-date=10 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010140150/https://www.bundesregierung.de/ContentArchiv/DE/Archiv17/Reden/2013/01/2013-01-24-merkel-davos.html |url-status=live }} After this, the comparison became a central element in major speeches.Among others, in her speech on the occasion of her honorary doctoral degree at the University of Szeged in Hungary, see {{cite web |url=http://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/DE/Rede/2015/02/2015-02-02-merkel-budapest.html |title=Rede von Bundeskanzlerin Merkel anlässlich der Verleihung der Ehrendoktorwürde der Universität Szeged |publisher=Die Bundesregierung |language=de |date=2 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010140512/https://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/DE/Rede/2015/02/2015-02-02-merkel-budapest.html |archive-date=10 October 2017 }} The international financial press has widely commented on her thesis, with The Economist saying:

{{Blockquote|If Mrs Merkel's vision is pragmatic, so too is her plan for implementing it. It can be boiled down to three statistics, a few charts and some facts on an A4 * sheet of paper. The three figures are 7 percent, 25 percent and 50 percent. Mrs Merkel never tires of saying that Europe has 7 percent of the world's population, 25 percent of its GDP and 50 percent of its social spending. If the region is to prosper in competition with emerging countries, it cannot continue to be so generous.{{cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21579144-germanys-vision-europe-all-about-making-continent-more-competitive-merkel |title=The Merkel plan |newspaper=The Economist |date=15 June 2013 |access-date=24 February 2016 |archive-date=23 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323014928/http://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21579144-germanys-vision-europe-all-about-making-continent-more-competitive-merkel |url-status=live }} ... She produces graphs of unit labour costs ... at EU meetings in much the same way that the late Margaret Thatcher used to pull passages from Friedrich Hayek's Road to Serfdom from her handbag.}}

The Financial Times commented: "Although Ms Merkel stopped short of suggesting that a ceiling on social spending might be one yardstick for measuring competitiveness, she hinted as much in the light of soaring social spending in the face of an ageing population.{{cite news |last=Peel |first=Quentin |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/8cc0f584-45fa-11e2-b7ba-00144feabdc0.html |title=Merkel warns on cost of welfare |work=Financial Times |date=16 December 2012 |access-date=24 February 2016 |archive-date=24 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324134929/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/8cc0f584-45fa-11e2-b7ba-00144feabdc0.html |url-status=live }}

Merkel has been credited as a key part of 2007 G8 negotiations that led to a significantly more ambitious renewable energy transition commitment than had been anticipated.{{Cite news |title=EU-Klimaziele: Merkel freut sich über "Durchbruch" |language=de-DE |work=Der Tagesspiegel Online |url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/merkel-freut-sich-uber-durchbruch-1461181.html |access-date=28 July 2023 |issn=1865-2263 |archive-date=28 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728171523/https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/merkel-freut-sich-uber-durchbruch-1461181.html |url-status=live}}

In September 2010, the coalition government published a long-term plan for sustainable development of the electrical grid until 2050; efforts to transition to sustainable and otherwise preferable sources of energy have been termed Energy Transition ({{lang|de|Energiewende}}). Although the initial plan was criticised for lifetime extensions of nuclear power plants, it was amended following the Fukushima nuclear disaster, and the last nuclear power plants in Germany were shut down in April 2023.{{Cite journal |last=Jacobs |first=David |date=2012 |title=The German Energiewende – History, Targets, Policies and Challenges |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/24324660 |journal=Renewable Energy Law and Policy Review |volume=3 |issue=4 |pages=223–233 |jstor=24324660 |issn=1869-4942 |archive-date=27 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210827153149/https://www.jstor.org/stable/24324660 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=Deutschlands letzte Atomkraftwerke vom Netz genommen |url=https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/atomkraftwerke-stilllegung-105.html |access-date=28 July 2023 |website=tagesschau.de |language=de |archive-date=15 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415223357/https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/atomkraftwerke-stilllegung-105.html |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=Atomkraft-Aus: Letzte deutsche Akw endgültig abgeschaltet |url=https://www.mdr.de/nachrichten/deutschland/atomkraft-ausstieg-akw-abgeschaltet-aus-100.html |access-date=28 July 2023 |website=www.mdr.de |language=de |archive-date=16 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416062538/https://www.mdr.de/nachrichten/deutschland/atomkraft-ausstieg-akw-abgeschaltet-aus-100.html |url-status=live}} The plan also aimed at a 40% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, a goal that was initially achieved largely due to reductions in demand during the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web |title=Erfolgsmeldung mit Schönheitsfehler – Deutschland erreicht seine Klimaziele für 2020 – dank Corona |url=https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/erfolgsmeldung-mit-schoenheitsfehler-deutschland-erreicht-100.html |access-date=28 July 2023 |website=Deutschlandfunk |date=4 January 2021 |language=de |archive-date=29 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129004823/https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/erfolgsmeldung-mit-schoenheitsfehler-deutschland-erreicht-100.html |url-status=live}} However, emissions increased to a level above the target in 2022.{{Cite web |last=Bauchmüller |first=Michael |date=21 December 2021 |title=Klimaschutz: Deutschland verfehlt wieder sein Klimaziel |url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/wirtschaft/klimaschutz-corona-emissionen-1.5493011 |access-date=28 July 2023 |website=Süddeutsche.de |language=de |archive-date=21 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221133945/https://www.sueddeutsche.de/wirtschaft/klimaschutz-corona-emissionen-1.5493011 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |date=4 January 2023 |title=Energieverbrauch sinkt, Emissionen stabil: Warum das so ist |url=https://www.zdf.de/uri/3ff3b9c3-9626-47be-9cfa-0544647917e5 |access-date=28 July 2023 |website=www.zdf.de |language=de |archive-date=28 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728162311/https://www.zdf.de/uri/3ff3b9c3-9626-47be-9cfa-0544647917e5 |url-status=live}}

In preparation for the 2015 Paris Climate Change Conference, Merkel announced that Germany would significantly increase its contributions to international climate aid and financing by 2020.{{Cite web |date=19 May 2015 |title=Germany increases funding for climate action |url=https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-en/service/archive/archive/germany-increases-funding-for-climate-action-442202 |access-date=28 July 2023 |website=Bundesregierung |archive-date=15 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215025035/https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-en/service/archive/archive/germany-increases-funding-for-climate-action-442202 |url-status=live}} In 2016, some observers criticised Merkel's lack of action with regards to climate change that year.{{Cite web |title="Climate plan: Hendricks demands Merkel put down her foot" |url=https://www.cleanenergywire.org/news/industry-grid-fee-rebates-rise-germany-retired-climate-pioneer/climate-plan-hendricks-demands-merkel-put-down-her-foot |access-date=28 July 2023 |website=Clean Energy Wire |archive-date=1 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201023842/https://www.cleanenergywire.org/news/industry-grid-fee-rebates-rise-germany-retired-climate-pioneer/climate-plan-hendricks-demands-merkel-put-down-her-foot |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |title=Angela Merkel und der Klimawandel: Klimakanzlerin außer Dienst |language=de-DE |work=Der Tagesspiegel Online |url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/klimakanzlerin-ausser-dienst-6020302.html |access-date=28 July 2023 |issn=1865-2263 |archive-date=28 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728171522/https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/klimakanzlerin-ausser-dienst-6020302.html |url-status=live}} In 2017, Merkel criticised the Trump administration's decision to withdraw from the 2015 Paris Agreement and reaffirmed the commitment of the remaining G20 members to the treaty.{{Cite web |date=2 June 2017 |title=Angela Merkel: Trump can't stop us on Paris deal |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/angela-merkel-trump-cant-stop-us/ |access-date=28 July 2023 |website=POLITICO |archive-date=2 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170602121312/https://www.politico.eu/article/angela-merkel-trump-cant-stop-us/ |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |last1=Halasz |first1=Angela|last2=Dewan|first2=Stephanie |date=8 July 2017 |title=G20 closes with rebuke to Trump's climate change stance |url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/07/08/europe/g20-merkel-trump-communique/index.html |access-date=28 July 2023 |website=CNN |archive-date=8 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708152917/https://www.cnn.com/2017/07/08/europe/g20-merkel-trump-communique/index.html |url-status=live}}

In early 2019, a governmental commission appointed by the coalition government approved a plan to phase out coal power plants by 2038, allocating a budget of {{Currency|40|EUR|linked=no}} billion to the plan.{{Cite news |last=Buck |first=Tobias |date=26 January 2019 |title=Germany set to phase out coal-fired power stations by 2038 |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/cfae297e-213c-11e9-8ce6-5db4543da632 |access-date=28 July 2023 |archive-date=27 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190127053532/https://www.ft.com/content/cfae297e-213c-11e9-8ce6-5db4543da632 |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |date=16 January 2020 |title=Germany agrees plan to phase out coal power by 2038 |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51133534 |access-date=28 July 2023 |archive-date=21 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200121041216/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51133534 |url-status=live}}

In September 2019, the Merkel government announced a set of climate change mitigation policies with a total budget of {{Currency|54|EUR|linked=no}} billion.{{Cite news |last=Eddy |first=Melissa |date=20 September 2019 |title=Germany Unveils $60 Billion Climate Package |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/20/world/europe/germany-climate-protection-merkel.html |access-date=30 June 2023 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=20 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920172021/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/20/world/europe/germany-climate-protection-merkel.html |url-status=live}} Although described as a "new beginning for Germany's climate policy" by then-minister of the environment Svenja Schulze,{{Cite news |last=Buck |first=Tobias |date=20 September 2019 |title=Germany unveils sweeping measures to fight climate change |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/26e8d1e0-dbb3-11e9-8f9b-77216ebe1f17 |access-date=30 June 2023 |archive-date=20 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920172059/https://www.ft.com/content/26e8d1e0-dbb3-11e9-8f9b-77216ebe1f17 |url-status=live}} the package was widely criticised; environmental protection groups have labelled it insufficient, and opposition parties have argued that it is ineffective.{{Cite news |date=20 September 2019 |title=Germany plans €54bn climate deal amid 500 protests |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-49767649 |access-date=30 June 2023 |archive-date=20 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920165710/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-49767649 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=Polarized public over Germany's climate plan? |url=https://www.dw.com/en/does-germanys-weak-climate-plan-reflect-a-polarized-public/a-50681461 |access-date=30 June 2023 |website=dw.com |archive-date=9 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191009110911/https://www.dw.com/en/does-germanys-weak-climate-plan-reflect-a-polarized-public/a-50681461 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=Not even the bare minimum: unpacking Germany's 2030 climate package |url=https://climateanalytics.org/blog/2019/not-even-the-bare-minimum-unpacking-germanys-2030-climate-package/ |access-date=30 June 2023 |website=Climate Analytics Blog |archive-date=3 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603073756/https://climateanalytics.org/blog/2019/not-even-the-bare-minimum-unpacking-germanys-2030-climate-package |url-status=live}} Prominent climate scientists have called it "a failure of the political system"{{Cite news |last=Götze |first=Susanne |date=20 September 2019 |title=Klimapaket der Bundesregierung: So beurteilen Experten die Einigung |language=de |work=Der Spiegel |url=https://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/mensch/klimapaket-der-bundesregierung-so-beurteilen-experten-die-einigung-a-1287888.html |access-date=30 June 2023 |issn=2195-1349 |archive-date=20 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920193108/https://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/mensch/klimapaket-der-bundesregierung-so-beurteilen-experten-die-einigung-a-1287888.html |url-status=live}} and "ridiculous".{{Cite web |title=Kritik an Bundesregierung – Latif: Klimapaket verdient den Namen nicht |url=https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/kritik-an-bundesregierung-latif-klimapaket-verdient-den-100.html |access-date=30 June 2023 |website=Deutschlandfunk |date=26 September 2019 |language=de |archive-date=16 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116225327/https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/kritik-an-bundesregierung-latif-klimapaket-verdient-den-100.html |url-status=live}}

In 2009, Merkel announced plans to take on additional government debt in order to stimulate economic growth, arguing that this should take priority over other fiscal concerns.{{Cite web |date=10 November 2009 |title=Merkel verteidigt Schulden- und Steuerpolitik |url=https://www.merkur.de/politik/merkel-verteidigt-schulden-steuerpolitik-zr-524344.html |access-date=28 July 2023 |website=www.merkur.de |language=de |archive-date=28 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728173941/https://www.merkur.de/politik/merkel-verteidigt-schulden-steuerpolitik-zr-524344.html |url-status=live}} The Merkel government's tax policy at the time was widely criticised, mostly for taking on additional debt instead of increasing tax rates at high levels of income.{{Cite news |date=24 August 2010 |title=Analysis: Merkel under pressure to raise tax for rich Germans |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-tax-analysis-idUSTRE67N1RW20100824 |access-date=28 July 2023 |archive-date=3 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703084333/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-tax-analysis-idUSTRE67N1RW20100824 |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |date=10 November 2009 |title=Recession Upends German Zeal for Fiscal Prudence (Published 2009) |work=The New York Times |language=en |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/11/business/global/11deficit.html |access-date=28 July 2023 |last1=Schwartz |first1=Nelson D. |last2=Dempsey |first2=Judy |archive-date=28 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728173941/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/11/business/global/11deficit.html |url-status=live}} In 2010, Merkel expressed support for a global financial transaction tax, but was ultimately unsuccessful in international negotiations on the matter.{{Cite web |title=Bank levy defeated |url=https://www.dw.com/en/merkel-concedes-defeat-on-bank-levy-at-g-8/a-5732220 |access-date=28 July 2023 |website=dw.com |archive-date=25 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180325104139/https://www.dw.com/en/merkel-concedes-defeat-on-bank-levy-at-g-8/a-5732220 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |date=14 June 2010 |title=Sarkozy, Merkel call for bank levy, financial transactions tax |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20100614-france-germany-merkel-sarkozy-meeting-eu-summit-economy-governance-diplomacy |access-date=28 July 2023 |website=France 24 |archive-date=16 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616145627/https://www.france24.com/en/20100614-france-germany-merkel-sarkozy-meeting-eu-summit-economy-governance-diplomacy |url-status=live}}

In 2019, Merkel argued for the importance of a balanced government budget, rejecting calls for additional investment to stimulate growth.{{Cite news |date=10 September 2019 |title=Germany sticking to balanced budget goal, Merkel says |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-budget-idUSKCN1VV2D9 |access-date=28 July 2023 |archive-date=11 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190911081026/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-budget-idUSKCN1VV2D9 |url-status=live}}

Merkel has been criticised for being personally present and involved at the M100 Media Award handover{{cite news|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-51367120100908 |work=Reuters |title=Merkel honours Mohammad cartoonist at press award |date=8 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002183108/http://in.reuters.com/article/2010/09/08/idINIndia-51367120100908 |url-status = dead|archive-date=2 October 2012 }} to Danish cartoonist Kurt Westergaard, who had triggered the Muhammad cartoons controversy. This happened at a time of fierce debate over a book by the former Deutsche Bundesbank executive and finance senator of Berlin Thilo Sarrazin, which was critical of Muslim immigration.{{cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,714643-2,00.html |title=The Sarrazin Debate: Germany Is Becoming Islamophobic |work=Der Spiegel |access-date=18 April 2011 |url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110917054526/http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0%2C1518%2C714643-2%2C00.html |archive-date=17 September 2011 }} At the same time, she condemned a planned burning of Qurans by a fundamentalist pastor in Florida.{{cite news|last=Connor|first=Richard|url=http://www.dw.de/merkel-defends-muhammad-cartoonist-condemns-koran-burning/a-5986351|access-date=2 May 2014|title=Merkel defends 'Muhammad' cartoonist, condemns Koran-burning|publisher=Deutsche Welle|date=8 September 2010|archive-date=7 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407010256/http://www.dw.de/merkel-defends-muhammad-cartoonist-condemns-koran-burning/a-5986351|url-status=live}} The Central Council of Muslims in GermanyBBC: Germany's Central Muslim Council (Zentralrat der Muslime in Deutschland) criticised Mrs. Merkel for attending the award ceremony. 8 September 2010. A ZMD spokesman, Aiman Mazyek, told public broadcaster Deutschlandradio that the Chancellor was honouring someone "who in our eyes kicked our prophet, and therefore kicked all Muslims". He said giving Mr Westergaard the prize in a "highly charged and heated time" was "highly problematic".{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11236158 |work=BBC News |title=Merkel honours Danish Muhammad cartoonist Westergaard |date=8 September 2010 |archive-date=8 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100908191909/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11236158 |url-status = live}} and the Left Party{{cite news|url-status = live|url=http://die-linke.de/nc/die_linke/nachrichten/detail/artikel/merkels-affront-gegen-muslime/ |title=Merkel's affront to Muslims |author=Buchholz, Christine |publisher=Die linke |date=9 September 2010 |access-date=18 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718231922/http://die-linke.de/nc/die_linke/nachrichten/detail/artikel/merkels-affront-gegen-muslime/ |archive-date=18 July 2011 |language=de }} (Die Linke) as well as the German Green Party{{efn|Grüne/Bündnis 90 Spokesman Renate Künast: "I wouldn't have done it", said Green Party floor leader Renate Künast. It was true that the right to freedom of expression also applies to cartoons, she said. "But if a chancellor also makes a speech on top of that, it serves to heat up the debate."}}{{cite news|work=Der Spiegel |access-date=18 April 2011 |url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,716503,00.html |title=Award for Danish Muhammad Cartoonist: Merkel Defends Press Freedom, Condemns Koran-Burning |url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110916060009/http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0%2C1518%2C716503%2C00.html |archive-date=16 September 2011 }} criticised the action by the centre-right chancellor. The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper wrote: "This will probably be the most explosive moment of her chancellorship so far."{{cite news|url-status = live|url=https://www.faz.net/s/Rub9B4326FE2669456BAC0CF17E0C7E9105/Doc~E6762D4CF046141829F1A9533368C843E~ATpl~Ecommon~Scontent.html |language=de |title=Ehrung des Mohammed-Karikaturisten: Angela Merkels Risiko |work=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung |date=8 September 2010 |access-date=18 April 2011 |archive-date=8 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100908195655/https://www.faz.net/s/Rub9B4326FE2669456BAC0CF17E0C7E9105/Doc~E6762D4CF046141829F1A9533368C843E~ATpl~Ecommon~Scontent.html }}

The term alternativlos (German for "without an alternative"), which was frequently used by Angela Merkel to describe her measures addressing the European sovereign-debt crisis, was named the Un-word of the Year 2010 by a jury of linguistic scholars. The wording was criticised as undemocratic, as any discussion on Merkel's politics would thus be deemed unnecessary or undesirable.{{cite news|title=Sprachkritik: "Alternativlos" ist das Unwort des Jahres |url=http://www.spiegel.de/kultur/gesellschaft/sprachkritik-alternativlos-ist-das-unwort-des-jahres-a-740096.html |work=Der Spiegel |access-date=2 July 2013 |date=18 January 2011 |language=de |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922064713/http://www.spiegel.de/kultur/gesellschaft/sprachkritik-alternativlos-ist-das-unwort-des-jahres-a-740096.html |archive-date=22 September 2013 |url-status = live}} The expression is credited for the name of the political party Alternative for Germany, which was founded in 2013.{{cite news|last=Prantl |first=Heribert |url=http://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/afd-alternative-dank-merkel-1.1778969 |access-date=2 May 2014 |newspaper=Süddeutsche Zeitung |title=Alternative dank Merkel |date=24 September 2013 |archive-date=29 September 2013 |url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929110752/http://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/afd-alternative-dank-merkel-1.1778969 }}

During a visit of U.S. President Barack Obama in Berlin, Merkel said on 19 June 2013 in the context of the 2013 mass surveillance disclosures: "The Internet is uncharted territory for us all" ({{langx|de|link=no|Das Internet ist für uns alle Neuland}}). This statement led to various internet memes and online mockery of Merkel.{{cite news|last=Strange |first=Hannah |title=Angela Merkel refers to internet as 'virgin territory' |access-date=25 October 2013 |date=20 June 2013 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/10133039/Angela-Merkel-refers-to-internet-as-virgin-territory.html |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206063727/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/10133039/Angela-Merkel-refers-to-internet-as-virgin-territory.html |archive-date=6 December 2013 |url-status = live}}{{cite news|last=Frickel |first=Claudia |title=Merkel beim Besuch von Obama: Das Netz lacht über Merkels "Internet-Neuland" |access-date=25 October 2013 |newspaper=Der Focus (Online Version) |url-status = live|url=http://www.focus.de/digital/internet/merkel-beim-besuch-von-obama-das-netz-lacht-ueber-merkels-internet-neuland_aid_1020060.html |date=20 June 2013 |language=de |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930224024/http://www.focus.de/digital/internet/merkel-beim-besuch-von-obama-das-netz-lacht-ueber-merkels-internet-neuland_aid_1020060.html |archive-date=30 September 2013 }}

During a state visit of the Turkish prime minister Ahmet Davutoğlu in January 2015, Merkel stated that "Islam is part of Germany", which induced criticism from within her party. Parliamentary group leader Volker Kauder stated that Muslims belong to Germany, but Islam does not, and that Muslims should "ask themselves why so many violent people refer to the Quran."{{cite news|url=http://www.t-online.de/nachrichten/deutschland/gesellschaft/id_72532980/kauder-widerspricht-merkel-islam-gehoert-nicht-zu-deutschland-.html|title=Kauder: 'Der Islam gehört nicht zu Deutschland'|trans-title=Kauder: "Islam does not belong to Germany"|agency=dpa/T-Online|date=18 January 2015|access-date=20 January 2015|language=de|archive-date=10 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010135655/http://www.t-online.de/nachrichten/deutschland/gesellschaft/id_72532980/kauder-widerspricht-merkel-islam-gehoert-nicht-zu-deutschland-.html|url-status=live}}[http://www.idea.de/nachrichten/detail/politik/detail/gehoert-der-islam-zu-deutschland-kauder-widerspricht-merkel-89332.html "Gehört der Islam zu Deutschland? Kauder widerspricht Merkel"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122095051/http://www.idea.de/nachrichten/detail/politik/detail/gehoert-der-islam-zu-deutschland-kauder-widerspricht-merkel-89332.html |date=22 January 2015 }}, Idea, 19 January 2015 {{in lang|de}}

At the conclusion of the May 2017 Group of Seven's leaders in Sicily, Merkel criticised American efforts to renege on earlier commitments on climate change. According to Merkel, the discussions were difficult and marred by dissent. "Here we have the situation where six members, or even seven if you want to add the EU, stand against one."{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2017-05-27/trump-takes-his-own-path-as-g-7-fails-to-reach-unity-on-climate|title=Trump Goes His Own Way as G-7 Cobbles Together an Awkward Truce|last1=Fouquet|first1=Helene|last2=Delfs|first2=Arne|last3=Wingrove|first3=Josh|date=27 May 2017|work=Bloomberg|access-date=27 May 2017|archive-date=27 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170527125541/https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2017-05-27/trump-takes-his-own-path-as-g-7-fails-to-reach-unity-on-climate|url-status=live}}

Merkel has faced criticism for failing to take a tough line on the People's Republic of China.{{cite news |title=Germany's reluctance to speak out against China |url=https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-reluctance-to-speak-out-against-china/a-54079606 |work=Deutsche Welle |date=7 July 2020 |access-date=23 September 2020 |archive-date=23 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923135412/https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-reluctance-to-speak-out-against-china/a-54079606 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Merkel is under pressure to cut Germany's ties with China as the Hong Kong crisis triggers a European backlash against Beijing |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/german-chancellor-angela-merkel-accused-too-close-to-china-2020-7 |work=Business Insider |date=8 July 2020 |access-date=23 September 2020 |archive-date=1 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001182518/https://www.businessinsider.com/german-chancellor-angela-merkel-accused-too-close-to-china-2020-7 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=China Is Merkel's Biggest Failure in Office |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/09/15/china-merkel-trade-germany-failure-covid-19/ |work=Foreign Policy |date=15 September 2020 |access-date=23 September 2020 |archive-date=26 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926000347/https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/09/15/china-merkel-trade-germany-failure-covid-19/ |url-status=live }} The Asia Times reported that "Unlike certain of her European counterparts, her China diplomacy has focused on non-interference in Beijing's internal affairs. As such, Merkel was reportedly furious when her Foreign Minister Heiko Maas received Hong Kong dissident Joshua Wong in Berlin in September [2019], a move that Beijing publicly protested."{{cite news |title=China, Germany tight ties will face post-Merkel test |url=https://asiatimes.com/2020/08/china-germany-tight-ties-will-face-post-merkel-test/ |work=Asia Times |date=26 August 2020 |access-date=23 September 2020 |archive-date=1 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101030455/https://asiatimes.com/2020/08/china-germany-tight-ties-will-face-post-merkel-test/ |url-status=live }}

Merkel's government decided to phase out both nuclear power and coal plants and supported the European Commission's Green Deal plans.{{cite news |title=The Green Brief: Merkel's climate 'realpolitik' legacy |url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy-environment/news/the-green-brief-merkels-climate-realpolitik-legacy/ |work=Euractiv |date=15 September 2021 |access-date=22 October 2021 |archive-date=22 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022094215/https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy-environment/news/the-green-brief-merkels-climate-realpolitik-legacy/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Germany Flirts With Power Crunch in Nuclear and Coal Exit |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-22/germany-flirts-with-power-crunch-in-nuclear-and-coal-exit |work=Bloomberg |date=22 August 2021 |access-date=22 October 2021 |archive-date=22 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022084836/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-22/germany-flirts-with-power-crunch-in-nuclear-and-coal-exit |url-status=live }} Critics blamed the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and closure of nuclear plants for contributing to the 2021–2022 global energy crisis.{{cite news |title=European Energy Crisis Fuels Carbon Trading Expansion Concerns |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-10-06/european-energy-crisis-fuels-carbon-trading-expansion-concerns |work=Bloomberg |date=6 October 2021 |access-date=22 October 2021 |archive-date=22 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022084826/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-10-06/european-energy-crisis-fuels-carbon-trading-expansion-concerns |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Climate Policy Meets Cold Reality in Europe |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/climate-policy-reality-europe-energy-costs-gas-coal-11632754849 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=27 September 2021 |access-date=22 October 2021 |archive-date=22 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022094219/https://www.wsj.com/articles/climate-policy-reality-europe-energy-costs-gas-coal-11632754849 |url-status=live }}

Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Merkel faced renewed criticisms that she had failed to curb Russian president Vladimir Putin's ambitions and aggression by insisting on diplomacy and détente policies.{{cite web |last1=Amaro |first1=Silvia |title=With Putin's war in Europe, the legacy of Germany's Merkel is now being seen in a very different light |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/14/russia-ukraine-legacy-of-germanys-angela-merkel-is-seen-differently.html |website=CNBC |date=14 March 2022 |access-date=4 April 2022 |archive-date=3 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403093055/https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/14/russia-ukraine-legacy-of-germanys-angela-merkel-is-seen-differently.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/putin-merkel-germany-scholz-foreign-policy-ukraine-war-invasion-nord-stream-2/ |title=Putin's useful German idiots |last=Karnitschnig |first=Matthew |website=Politico |date=28 March 2022 |access-date=5 April 2022 |archive-date=4 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220404104812/https://www.politico.eu/article/putin-merkel-germany-scholz-foreign-policy-ukraine-war-invasion-nord-stream-2/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/clouds-over-merkel-s-legacy-as-russian-invasion-lays-flaws-bare/6481942.html |title=Clouds Over Merkel's Legacy as Russian Invasion Lays Flaws Bare |website=Voice of America |agency=Agence France-Presse |date=12 March 2022 |access-date=5 April 2022 |archive-date=2 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402062403/https://www.voanews.com/a/clouds-over-merkel-s-legacy-as-russian-invasion-lays-flaws-bare/6481942.html |url-status=live }} Critics argued that under her tenure, Germany and Europe was weakened by a dependency on Russian natural gas, including the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines, and that the German military was neglected, disorganised, and underfunded.{{cite web |last1=Connolly |first1=Kate |last2=Wintour |first2=Patrick |title=Pressure mounts on German ministers to embargo Russian energy |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/04/pressure-mounts-germany-embargo-russian-energy-imports |website=The Guardian |date=4 April 2022 |access-date=4 April 2022 |archive-date=4 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220404154650/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/04/pressure-mounts-germany-embargo-russian-energy-imports |url-status=live }} By late 2021, Germany was importing 55% of its gas, 34% of its oil, and 52% of its coal from Russia.{{cite news |author=Daniel Johnson |date=8 April 2022 |title=Angela Merkel doesn't deserve a quiet retirement |work=Telegraph |location= |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/04/08/angela-merkel-doesnt-deserve-quiet-retirement/ |url-status=live |access-date= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412212042/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/04/08/angela-merkel-doesnt-deserve-quiet-retirement/ |archive-date=12 April 2023 }}

Merkel's chancellorship has become tightly associated with the policy of Wandel durch Handel, which advocates pursuing close economic ties with authoritarian governments with the goal of inducing democratization. When the Wandel durch Handel policy came under intense domestic and international scrutiny following the Russian invasion, Merkel received much of the blame, leading Politico to write "[n]o German is more responsible for the crisis in Ukraine than Merkel". Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy also blamed Merkel and then-French president Nicolas Sarkozy's decision to block Ukraine from joining NATO in 2008 for the war; Merkel released a statement that she stands by her decision,{{cite news |url=https://www.dw.com/en/merkel-stands-by-past-ukraine-nato-decision-after-zelenskyy-criticism/a-61359003 |title=Merkel 'stands by' past Ukraine NATO decision after Zelenskyy criticism |website=Deutsche Welle |date=4 April 2022 |access-date=5 April 2022 |archive-date=4 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220404201419/https://www.dw.com/en/merkel-stands-by-past-ukraine-nato-decision-after-zelenskyy-criticism/a-61359003 |url-status=live}} later adding that the war would have broken out earlier at a greater military disadvantage for Ukraine.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3e8y1qly52o |title=Angela Merkel defends ties with Russia and blocking Ukraine from Nato |website=BBC |date=25 November 2024 |access-date=25 November 2024 |archive-date=25 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241125062208/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3e8y1qly52o |url-status=live}}

{{Main|Public image of Angela Merkel}}

File:Angela Merkel tenure graphic.svg

Merkel was widely described as the de facto leader of the European Union throughout her tenure as Chancellor. She was named the world's second most powerful person by Forbes magazine in 2012 and 2015, following Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin respectively, the highest ranking ever achieved by a woman.{{cite news |last=Balasubramanyam |first=Ranjitha |date=16 September 2013 |title=All Eyes on Berlin |newspaper=Foreign Policy Journal |url=http://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/2013/09/16/all-eyes-on-berlin/ |url-status=live |access-date=23 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512173724/https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/2013/09/16/all-eyes-on-berlin/ |archive-date=12 May 2019}}{{cite news |last=Wagele |first=Elizabeth |author-link=Elizabeth Wagele |date=16 July 2012 |title=What Personality Type is Angela Merkel? |newspaper=Psychology Today |url=http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-career-within-you/201207/what-personality-type-is-angela-merkel |url-status=live |access-date=23 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200528171440/https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-career-within-you/201207/what-personality-type-is-angela-merkel |archive-date=28 May 2020}}{{cite news |date=24 August 2011 |title=Angela Merkel 'world's most powerful woman' |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/8720698/Angela-Merkel-worlds-most-powerful-woman.html |url-status=live |access-date=18 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615221430/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/8720698/Angela-Merkel-worlds-most-powerful-woman.html |archive-date=15 June 2018}} On 26 March 2014, Merkel became the longest-serving incumbent head of government in the European Union. In December 2015, Merkel was named as Time magazine's Person of the Year, with the magazine's cover declaring her to be the "Chancellor of the Free World".{{cite news |last=Gibbs |first=Nancy |date=9 December 2015 |title=Why Angela Merkel is TIME's Person of the Year |url=https://time.com/time-person-of-the-year-2015-angela-merkel-choice/ |url-status=live |access-date=9 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714205632/http://time.com/time-person-of-the-year-2015-angela-merkel-choice/ |archive-date=14 July 2018}} In 2018, Merkel was named the most powerful woman in the world for a record fourteenth time by Forbes.{{cite news |title=Angela Merkel |work=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/angela-merkel/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525025708/https://www.forbes.com/profile/angela-merkel/ |archive-date=25 May 2019}} Following the election of Donald Trump to the US presidency in 2016, Merkel was described by The New York Times as "the Liberal West's Last Defender",{{cite web |last1=Smale |first1=Alison |last2=Erlanger |first2=Steven |date=12 November 2016 |title=As Obama Exits World Stage, Angela Merkel May Be the Liberal West's Last Defender |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/13/world/europe/germany-merkel-trump-election.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527052702/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/13/world/europe/germany-merkel-trump-election.html |archive-date=27 May 2019 |access-date=24 February 2017 |work=The New York Times}} and as the "leader of the free world" by a number of commentators, including Hillary Clinton.{{cite news |last=Clarke |first=Hilary |date=30 October 2018 |title=For years, Angela Merkel saw off all challengers. Now, she's preparing to step aside |publisher=CNN |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/10/29/europe/merkel-career-intl/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=30 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181230081346/https://edition.cnn.com/2018/10/29/europe/merkel-career-intl/index.html |archive-date=30 December 2018}}{{cite web |last1=Moulson |first1=Geir |last2=Rising |first2=David |date=29 October 2018 |title=Merkel won't seek a 5th term as German chancellor |url=https://apnews.com/5a61606ff1f84923b0ebed4015f62550 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130172225/https://gum.criteo.com/syncframe?topUrl=apnews.com |archive-date=30 November 2021 |access-date=30 December 2018 |website=AP NEWS}}{{Cite web |date=17 March 2017 |title=The leader of the free world meets Donald Trump |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/the-leader-of-the-free-world-angela-merkel-meets-donald-trump/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220030604/https://www.politico.eu/article/the-leader-of-the-free-world-angela-merkel-meets-donald-trump/ |archive-date=20 February 2022 |access-date=10 February 2022 |website=POLITICO |language=en-US}} In a 2018 survey, Merkel was found to be the most widely respected world leader.{{cite web |date=2 October 2018 |title=World prefers Angela Merkel to Donald Trump: Pew study |url=https://www.dw.com/en/world-prefers-angela-merkel-to-donald-trump-pew-study/a-45722124 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210527005603/https://www.dw.com/en/world-prefers-angela-merkel-to-donald-trump-pew-study/a-45722124 |archive-date=27 May 2021 |access-date=18 May 2021 |publisher=Deutsche Welle}} The Atlantic described her in 2019 as "the world's most successful living politician, on the basis of both achievement and longevity".{{cite web |last=Marton |first=Kati |date=19 May 2019 |title=The Merkel Model |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/05/how-angela-merkel-keeps-power-mans-world/589675/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190520183452/https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/05/how-angela-merkel-keeps-power-mans-world/589675/ |archive-date=20 May 2019 |access-date=21 May 2019 |website=The Atlantic}} Harvard University President Larry Bacow described her as "one of the most widely admired and broadly influential statespeople of our time".{{cite web |date=7 December 2018 |title=Angela Merkel named Harvard Commencement speaker |url=https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2018/12/angela-merkel-named-harvard-commencement-speaker/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527202744/https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2018/12/angela-merkel-named-harvard-commencement-speaker/ |archive-date=27 May 2019 |access-date=27 May 2019 |website=news.harvard.edu}}

Critics have argued that Merkel's policymaking during the 2015 migrant crisis has damaged the integrity of the EU.{{Cite web |title=Angela Merkel's historic error on immigration |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/angela-merkel/12193876/Angela-Merkels-historic-error-on-immigration.html |access-date=29 June 2023 |website=www.telegraph.co.uk|date=15 March 2016 |archive-date=15 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315234021/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/angela-merkel/12193876/Angela-Merkels-historic-error-on-immigration.html |url-status=live}} Some have also commented that Germany's failure to meet financial commitments to NATO, Merkel's blocking of the accession of Ukraine to NATO in 2008,{{Cite news |last=Oltermann |first=Philip |date=7 June 2022 |title=No regrets over handling of Vladimir Putin, says Angela Merkel |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/07/no-regrets-over-handling-of-vladimir-putin-says-angela-merkel |access-date=29 June 2023 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=7 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607215627/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/07/no-regrets-over-handling-of-vladimir-putin-says-angela-merkel |url-status=live}} and the abolishment of conscription have together weakened the positions of Germany and Europe following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In 2023, Merkel received a doctorate honoris causa from the Paris Institute of Political Sciences in recognition of her political career.{{Cite web |title=Angela Merkel décorée du grade de docteure honoris causa par Sciences Po |url=https://lepetitjournal.com/berlin/actualites/angela-merkel-decoree-docteure-honoris-causa-sciences-po-364392 |access-date=1 July 2023 |website=lepetitjournal.com |language=fr |archive-date=28 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628113909/https://lepetitjournal.com/berlin/actualites/angela-merkel-decoree-docteure-honoris-causa-sciences-po-364392 |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |date=28 June 2023 |title=Europe : Angela Merkel à l'honneur à Sciences Po Paris |language=fr |work=La Croix |url=https://www.la-croix.com/Monde/Europe-Angela-Merkel-lhonneur-Sciences-Po-Paris-2023-06-28-1201273395 |access-date=1 July 2023 |issn=0242-6056 |archive-date=28 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628174207/https://www.la-croix.com/Monde/Europe-Angela-Merkel-lhonneur-Sciences-Po-Paris-2023-06-28-1201273395 |url-status=live}}

Merkel has been described as having significantly shaped the political landscape of Germany, particularly the perceptions of those who grew up during her chancellorship; this demographic group has been referred to {{Lang|de|Merkelkinder}} ({{Translation|children of Merkel}}).{{Cite web |last=Franzke |first=Amna |title=WIR MERKELKINDER |trans-title=Us Merkel-children |url=https://www.zeit.de/zustimmung?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zeit.de%2Fcampus%2F2020-12%2Fangela-merkel-kanzlerschaft-amtszeit-regierung-generation |access-date=2 August 2023 |website=www.zeit.de |language=de |archive-date=2 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230802195111/https://www.zeit.de/zustimmung?url=https://www.zeit.de/campus/2020-12/angela-merkel-kanzlerschaft-amtszeit-regierung-generation |url-status=dead }}{{Cite news |title=The attitudes of Germany's young |newspaper=The Economist |url=https://www.economist.com/special-report/2021/09/20/the-youngs-attitudes |access-date=2 August 2023 |issn=0013-0613 |archive-date=20 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210920203839/https://www.economist.com/special-report/2021/09/20/the-youngs-attitudes |url-status=live}}

As a woman who is a politician from a centre-right party and also a scientist, Merkel has been compared by many in the English-language press to 20th-century British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Thatcher also had a science degree from Oxford University in chemistry. Some have referred to her as "Iron Lady", "Iron Girl", and even "The Iron Frau", all alluding to Thatcher, whose nickname was "The Iron Lady". Political commentators have debated the precise extent to which their agendas are similar.{{cite news |last=Risen |first=Clay |date=5 July 2005 |title=Is Angela Merkel the next Maggie Thatcher? |newspaper=Slate |url=http://www.slate.com/id/2122001/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090428223123/http://www.slate.com/id/2122001/ |archive-date=28 April 2009}} Later in her tenure, Merkel acquired the nickname "Mutti" (a German familiar form of "mother"). She has also been called the "Iron Chancellor", in reference to Otto von Bismarck.{{cite news |date=26 November 2009 |title=The new iron chancellor |newspaper=The Economist |url=https://www.economist.com/node/21540283 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124193154/http://www.economist.com/node/21540283 |archive-date=24 November 2011}}{{cite news |last=Barro |first=Josh |date=18 August 2016 |title=Hillary is America's Merkel, but not in the way Trump thinks |work=Business Insider |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/hillary-clinton-merkel-donald-trump-2016-8 |url-status=live |access-date=20 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622061730/http://www.businessinsider.com/hillary-clinton-merkel-donald-trump-2016-8 |archive-date=22 June 2018}}

Al Jazeera has criticised the "Iron Lady" nickname for Merkel as "wrong-headed", noting her pro-European stance, her efforts to combat "profit-seeking speculators" during the euro crisis, and her lacking Thatcher's "my-way-or-the-highway" attitude towards politics.{{Cite web |last=Spicer |first=Nick |date=9 March 2012 |title=Can we please stop calling Merkel the Iron Lady? |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2012/3/9/can-we-please-stop-calling-merkel-the-iron-lady |access-date=30 July 2023 |website=Al Jazeera |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414081216/https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2012/3/9/can-we-please-stop-calling-merkel-the-iron-lady |archive-date=14 April 2021 |url-status=live}}

{{Main|Family of Angela Merkel}}

File:Pedro Sánchez y Angela Merkel 02.jpg, Begoña Gómez, Merkel, and her husband Joachim Sauer, 2018]]

In 1977, at the age of 23, Merkel, then Angela Kasner, married physics student Ulrich Merkel (born 1953){{cite web |title=Eines Tages zog sie aus |url=https://www.focus.de/politik/deutschland/deutschland-eines-tages-zog-sie-aus_aid_200326.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508201712/https://www.focus.de/politik/deutschland/deutschland-eines-tages-zog-sie-aus_aid_200326.html |archive-date=8 May 2019 |access-date=8 May 2019 |website=FOCUS Online}} and took his surname. The couple divorced in 1982.{{cite web |title=Biographie: Angela Merkel, geb. 1954 |url=http://www.dhm.de/lemo/html/biografien/MerkelAngela/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090225210100/http://www.dhm.de/lemo/html/biografien/MerkelAngela/index.html |archive-date=25 February 2009 |access-date=2 March 2010 |work=DHM}} Her second and current husband is quantum chemist and professor Joachim Sauer, who has largely avoided media attention during and after Merkel's political career.{{Cite news |last=Huggler |first=Justin |date=27 May 2016 |title=Rare sighting of Angela Merkel's publicity-shy husband at G7 summit |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/27/rare-sighting-of-angela-merkels-publicity-shy-husband-at-g7-summ/ |access-date=21 July 2023 |issn=0307-1235 |archive-date=27 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527134105/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/27/rare-sighting-of-angela-merkels-publicity-shy-husband-at-g7-summ/ |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Adam |title=We Pretty Much Only Know These 8 Things About Angela Merkel's Husband |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/we-pretty-much-only-know-these-8-things-about-angela-merkels-husband-2012-5 |access-date=21 July 2023 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US |archive-date=19 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519042220/https://www.businessinsider.com/we-pretty-much-only-know-these-8-things-about-angela-merkels-husband-2012-5 |url-status=live}} They first met in 1981{{cite news |last1=Uhlmann |first1=Stefan |date=14 August 2009 |title=Joachim Sauer, das Phantom an Merkels Seite |language=de |newspaper=Die Zeit |url=https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article4321502/Joachim-Sauer-das-Phantom-an-Merkels-Seite.html |url-status=live |access-date=11 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090816001253/http://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article4321502/Joachim-Sauer-das-Phantom-an-Merkels-Seite.html |archive-date=16 August 2009}} and married in 1998.{{cite web |date=6 September 2017 |title=Angela Merkel's journey from 'Mädchen' to 'Mutti' |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/germany-election-angela-merkel-journey-from-madchen-to-mutti/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608215834/https://www.politico.eu/article/germany-election-angela-merkel-journey-from-madchen-to-mutti/ |archive-date=8 June 2023 |access-date=8 June 2023 |website=Politico}} Merkel has no children, but Sauer has two adult sons from a previous marriage.{{cite news |last=Klatell |first=James M |date=9 August 2006 |title=Germany's First Fella, Angela Merkel Is Germany's Chancellor; But Her Husband Stays Out of the Spotlight |work=CBS News |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/08/09/world/main1879305.shtml |url-status=dead |access-date=2 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060810174558/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/08/09/world/main1879305.shtml |archive-date=10 August 2006}}

Having grown up in East Germany, Merkel learned Russian at school. She was able to speak informally to Vladimir Putin in Russian but conducted diplomatic dialogue through an interpreter. She rarely spoke English in public, but delivered a small section of an address to the British Parliament in English in 2014.{{cite news |last1=Ward |first1=Lucy |date=25 September 2014 |title=Polyglots and insults: how our European leaders use language |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2014/sep/25/polyglots-and-insults-how-our-european-leaders-use-language |url-status=live |access-date=9 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209135921/https://www.theguardian.com/education/2014/sep/25/polyglots-and-insults-how-our-european-leaders-use-language |archive-date=9 December 2021}}{{cite news |date=27 February 2014 |title=Angela Merkel speaks to UK Parliament in English about EU |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-26371443 |url-status=live |access-date=9 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209140520/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-26371443 |archive-date=9 December 2021}}

Merkel is a fervent football fan and was known to listen to games while in the Bundestag and to attend games of the national team in her official capacity, including Germany's 1–0 victory against Argentina in the 2014 World Cup Final.{{cite news |date=15 March 2013 |title=Angela Merkel im Fußballfieber |language=de |newspaper=Focus |url=http://www.focus.de/kultur/vermischtes/angela-merkel-angela-merkel-im-fussballfieber_aid_940637.html |url-status=live |access-date=24 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521134823/http://www.focus.de/kultur/vermischtes/angela-merkel-angela-merkel-im-fussballfieber_aid_940637.html |archive-date=21 May 2013}}{{cite web |date=23 June 2012 |title=Kanzlerin Merkel kommt erst wieder zum Finale |url=https://www.handelsblatt.com/fussball-nationalmannschaft-kanzlerin-merkel-kommt-erst-wieder-zum-finale/6790336.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120627125955/http://www.handelsblatt.com/fussball-nationalmannschaft-kanzlerin-merkel-kommt-erst-wieder-zum-finale/6790336.html |archive-date=27 June 2012 |access-date=24 March 2013 |work=Handelsblatt |language=de}}{{cite web |last=Camargo |first=Marcelo |date=25 January 2014 |title=Germany chancellor and president to watch final at Maracanã |url=http://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/en/geral/noticia/2014-07/germany-chancellor-and-president-watch-final-maracana |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714155301/http://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/en/geral/noticia/2014-07/germany-chancellor-and-president-watch-final-maracana |archive-date=14 July 2014 |access-date=11 July 2014 |publisher=Agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br}}

Merkel has stated that her favorite film is The Legend of Paul and Paula, an East German movie released in 1973.{{Cite web |title=Merkel reveals politically explosive favorite film |url=https://www.dw.com/en/merkel-reveals-politically-explosive-favorite-film/a-16811402 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215022257/https://www.dw.com/en/merkel-reveals-politically-explosive-favorite-film/a-16811402 |archive-date=15 December 2018 |access-date=14 December 2018 |publisher=Deutsche Welle |language=en-GB}}

Merkel has a fear of dogs, which developed after she was attacked by one in 1995.{{cite news |last=Hume |first=Tim |title=Putin: I didn't mean to scare Angela Merkel with dog |publisher=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/12/europe/putin-merkel-scared-dog/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=20 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507083940/https://www.cnn.com/2016/01/12/europe/putin-merkel-scared-dog/index.html |archive-date=7 May 2019}} Vladimir Putin brought in his Labrador Retriever during a press conference in 2007. Putin claims he did not mean to scare her, though Merkel later observed, "I understand why he has to do this – to prove he's a man. ... He's afraid of his own weakness."

Since 2017, Merkel has occasionally been seen shaking visibly on several public occasions, recovering shortly afterwards.{{cite web |last1=Oltermann |first1=Philip |date=10 July 2019 |title=Angela Merkel says she is in good health after third shaking bout |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/10/angela-merkel-seen-shaking-for-third-time |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711003443/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/10/angela-merkel-seen-shaking-for-third-time |archive-date=11 July 2019 |access-date=11 July 2019 |website=The Guardian}}{{cite news |date=10 July 2019 |title=Angela Merkel shaking: I'm well, she says, despite third incident |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-48938691 |url-status=live |access-date=11 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710230534/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-48938691 |archive-date=10 July 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Berlin |first1=Oliver Moody |date=11 July 2019 |title=Concerns grow as Merkel suffers third bout of shaking |newspaper=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/russia-ukraine-war/article/concerns-grow-as-merkel-suffers-third-bout-of-shaking-cl7389z7p |url-status=live |access-date=11 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711023333/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/concerns-grow-as-merkel-suffers-third-bout-of-shaking-cl7389z7p |archive-date=11 July 2019}} After one such occasion, she attributed the shaking to dehydration, saying that she felt better after a drink of water.{{cite web |author=Philip Oltermann |date=27 June 2019 |title=Angela Merkel seen shaking for second time in just over a week |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/27/angela-merkel-seen-shaking-second-time-just-over-week-germany |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627104303/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/27/angela-merkel-seen-shaking-second-time-just-over-week-germany |archive-date=27 June 2019 |access-date=27 June 2019 |newspaper=The Guardian}}

In September 2021, after evading the question for most of her career, Merkel said that she considered herself a feminist. The statement came in a conference along with Nigerian writer and feminist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.{{cite news |date=9 September 2021 |title=Germany's Angela Merkel declares 'yes, I am a feminist' |work=Deutsche Welle |url=https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-angela-merkel-declares-yes-i-am-a-feminist/a-59127993 |url-status=live |access-date=9 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210908225051/https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-angela-merkel-declares-yes-i-am-a-feminist/a-59127993 |archive-date=8 September 2021}}

Since her retirement, Merkel has commented on the Russian invasion of Ukraine but has otherwise limited her involvement in political matters. She has instead focused on travelling, attending only "feel-good events" ({{Lang|de|Wohlfühltermine}}) in a private capacity.{{Cite news |date=18 June 2022 |title=Angela Merkel über Kanzlerschaft und Ruhestand: »Jetzt bin ich frei« |language=de |work=Der Spiegel |url=https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/angela-merkel-ueber-kanzlerschaft-und-ruhestand-jetzt-bin-ich-frei-a-913bd7c5-9155-472d-a9bb-34d809858767 |url-status=live |access-date=4 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221014021811/https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/angela-merkel-ueber-kanzlerschaft-und-ruhestand-jetzt-bin-ich-frei-a-913bd7c5-9155-472d-a9bb-34d809858767 |archive-date=14 October 2022 |issn=2195-1349}}{{Cite web |date=19 June 2022 |title=Angela Merkel: So genießt die Alt-Kanzlerin ihre Rente |url=https://www.gala.de/stars/news/angela-merkel--so-geniesst-die-alt-kanzlerin-ihre-rente--22874066.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604095650/https://www.gala.de/stars/news/angela-merkel--so-geniesst-die-alt-kanzlerin-ihre-rente--22874066.html |archive-date=4 June 2023 |access-date=4 June 2023 |website=gala.de |language=de}}

Merkel reportedly "detested" U.S. President Donald Trump, according to Politico, citing a forthcoming book by Jonathan Karl.{{Cite news |last=Bade |first=Rachael |authorlink=Rachael Bade |date=11 November 2023 |title=Playbook: Why Congress could sleepwalk into a shutdown |work=Politico |url=https://www.politico.com/playbook |access-date=11 November 2023 |archive-date=19 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519042220/https://www.businessinsider.com/we-pretty-much-only-know-these-8-things-about-angela-merkels-husband-2012-5 |url-status=live}}

File:Ev Kirchentag 2011 in Dresden 71.jpg in Dresden]]

Angela Merkel is a Lutheran member of the Evangelical Church in Berlin, Brandenburg and Silesian Upper Lusatia ({{langx|de|link=no|Evangelische Kirche Berlin-Brandenburg-schlesische Oberlausitz – EKBO}}), a United Protestant (i.e. both Reformed and Lutheran) church body under the umbrella of the Protestant Church in Germany. The EKBO is a member of the Union of Protestant Churches in the EKD.{{cite web |title=Bundeskanzlerin Merkel ohne fertige Antworten in Templin |url=https://www.rbb-online.de/panorama/beitrag/2014/10/Brandenburg-Feiertage-Reformationstag-Gottesdienste-Merkel-in-Templin.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20161123192100/https://www.rbb-online.de/panorama/beitrag/2014/10/Brandenburg-Feiertage-Reformationstag-Gottesdienste-Merkel-in-Templin.html |archive-date=23 November 2016 |access-date=1 December 2015}} Before the 2004 merger of the Evangelical Church in Berlin-Brandenburg and the Evangelical Church in Silesian Upper Lusatia, Merkel belonged to the former. In 2012, Merkel said, regarding her faith: "I am a member of the Protestant Church. I believe in God and religion is also my constant companion, and has been for the whole of my life. We as Christians should above all not be afraid of standing up for our beliefs."{{cite web |last=Spencer |first=Nick |date=6 January 2016 |title=Angela Merkel: How Germany's Iron Chancellor is shaped by her Christianity {{pipe}} Christian News on Christian Today |url=https://www.christiantoday.com/article/angela.merkel.how.germanys.iron.chancellor.is.shaped.by.her.christianity/75803.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331121013/https://www.christiantoday.com/article/angela.merkel.how.germanys.iron.chancellor.is.shaped.by.her.christianity/75803.htm |archive-date=31 March 2017 |access-date=5 April 2017 |publisher=Christiantoday.com}}
{{Cite web |date=3 November 2012 |title=Video Podcast of the German Chancellor #37/2012 |url=http://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/DE/Podcast/2012/2012-11-03-Video-Podcast/links/download-PDF.pdf?__blob=publicationFile |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511061827/http://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/DE/Podcast/2012/2012-11-03-Video-Podcast/links/download-PDF.pdf?__blob=publicationFile |archive-date=11 May 2017 |access-date=6 April 2017 |language=de |quote=Ich bin Mitglied der evangelischen Kirche. Ich glaube an Gott, und die Religion ist auch mein ständiger Begleiter – eigentlich in meinem ganzen Leben – gewesen.}} She also publicly declared that Germany suffers not from "too much Islam" but "too little Christianity".{{Cite web |date=9 September 2011 |title=Bericht der Vorsitzenden der CDU Deutschlands Bundeskanzlerin Dr. Angela Merkel MdB |trans-title=Report of the Chairwoman of the German CDU Federal Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel |url=http://www.karlsruhe2010.cdu.de/images/stories/docs/101115-Rede-Merkel.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930023812/http://www.karlsruhe2010.cdu.de/images/stories/docs/101115-Rede-Merkel.pdf |archive-date=30 September 2018 |access-date=6 April 2017 |language=de |quote=Es ist doch nicht so, dass wir ein Zuviel an Islam haben, sondern wir haben ein Zuwenig an Christentum.}}

Since 1991, Merkel has sat annually for sitting and standing portraits by, and interview with, Herlinde Koelbl.{{cite journal | url = https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2017/apr/05/angela-merkel-portraits-26-years-herlinde-koelbl | title = The many faces of Angela Merkel: 26 years of photographing the German chancellor | author = Philip Oltermann | date = 5 April 2017 | journal = The Guardian | access-date = 20 November 2018 | archive-date = 20 November 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181120221014/https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2017/apr/05/angela-merkel-portraits-26-years-herlinde-koelbl | url-status = live }}{{cite news | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/in-sight/wp/2017/03/29/decades-of-yearly-portraits-show-how-power-has-transformed-angela-merkel/ | title = Decades of yearly portraits show how power has transformed Angela Merkel | author = Max Bearak | date = 29 March 2017 | newspaper = The Washington Post | access-date = 20 November 2018 | archive-date = 21 December 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181221120823/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/in-sight/wp/2017/03/29/decades-of-yearly-portraits-show-how-power-has-transformed-angela-merkel/ | url-status = live }}

Merkel was portrayed by Swiss actress Anna Katarina in the 2012 political satire film The Dictator.{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_dictator_2012|title=The Dictator|website=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=19 June 2023|archive-date=19 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619075138/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_dictator_2012|url-status=live}}

Merkel features as a main character in two of the three plays that make up the Europeans Trilogy (Bruges, Antwerp, and Tervuren) by Paris-based UK playwright Nick Awde: Bruges (2014) and Tervuren (2016). A character named Merkel, accompanied by a sidekick called Schäuble, also appears as the sinister female henchman in Michael Paraskos's novel In Search of Sixpence.Paraskos, Michael, In Search of Sixpence (London: Friction Press, 2016).

On the American sketch-comedy series Saturday Night Live, Merkel has been parodied by Kate McKinnon.{{cite news|url=https://time.com/4142893/angela-merkel-kate-mckinnon-snl/|title=See the Best of Kate McKinnon's Hilarious Angela Merkel Impression|first=Samantha|last=Grossman|magazine=Time|access-date=23 January 2017|archive-date=30 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930141435/http://time.com/4142893/angela-merkel-kate-mckinnon-snl/|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/snl-angela-merkel-donald-trump-time-perso_us_584d13f9e4b04c8e2bb03e77 |title='SNL' Version of Angela Merkel Is Not Happy Donald Trump Is Time's 'Person of the Year'|first=Lee|last=Moran|work=HuffPost|date=11 December 2016|access-date=23 January 2017 |archive-date=2 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202014252/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/snl-angela-merkel-donald-trump-time-perso_us_584d13f9e4b04c8e2bb03e77|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.snlarchives.net/Impressions/?3375 |title=Impressions – Angela Merkel|publisher=SNL Archives|access-date=23 January 2017|archive-date=21 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121134412/http://snlarchives.net/Impressions/?3375|url-status=live}}

On the British sketch-comedy Tracey Ullman's Show, comedian Tracey Ullman has parodied Merkel to international acclaim.[http://meedia.de/2016/01/21/true-total-hottie-frau-die-bislang-beste-merkel-parodie-kommt-von-der-bbc/ "True total hottie Frau": Die bislang beste Merkel – Parodie kommt von der BBC] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161219002605/http://meedia.de/2016/01/21/true-total-hottie-frau-die-bislang-beste-merkel-parodie-kommt-von-der-bbc/ |date=19 December 2016 }}, Buzzer, 21 January 2016.{{Cite web |title=Merkel-Parodie von Tracey Ullman – Die Chancelorette erobert die Herzen der Briten |url=https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/merkel-parodie-von-tracey-ullman-die-chancelorette-erobert-102.html |access-date=15 July 2023 |website=Deutschlandfunk |date=26 January 2016 |language=de |archive-date=15 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230715144432/https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/merkel-parodie-von-tracey-ullman-die-chancelorette-erobert-102.html |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |date=23 February 2016 |title=Tracey Ullman: Die Ex-Sängerin, die toll Angela Merkel parodiert – WELT |url=https://www.welt.de/vermischtes/article151249732/Die-Ex-Saengerin-die-toll-Angela-Merkel-parodiert.html |access-date=15 July 2023 |website=Die Welt |language=de |archive-date=22 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122005900/https://www.welt.de/vermischtes/article151249732/Die-Ex-Saengerin-die-toll-Angela-Merkel-parodiert.html |url-status=live}}{{Cite magazine |date=21 January 2016 |title=Grandiose Comedy: Tracey Ullman parodiert Bundeskanzlerin Angela Merkel |url=https://www.rollingstone.de/grandiose-comedy-tracey-ullman-parodiert-bundeskanzlerin-angela-merkel-945163/ |access-date=15 July 2023 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=de |archive-date=23 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160123202303/https://www.rollingstone.de/grandiose-comedy-tracey-ullman-parodiert-bundeskanzlerin-angela-merkel-945163/ |url-status=live}}

In 2016, a documentary film Angela Merkel – The Unexpected was produced by Broadview TV and MDR in collaboration with Arte and Das Erste.{{cite web|first1=Patricia|last1=Smagge|title=Angela Merkel: The Unexpected – Angela Merkel – Die Unerwartete (2016) (In Dutch)|url=https://cinemagazine.nl/angela-merkel-the-unexpected-angela-merkel-die-unerwartete-2016-recensie/|website=cinemagazine.nl|access-date=20 September 2017|year=2016|archive-date=20 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920092749/https://cinemagazine.nl/angela-merkel-the-unexpected-angela-merkel-die-unerwartete-2016-recensie/|url-status=live}}

In 2024, a German TV show called 'Miss Merkel' reimagined her as a detective.{{Cite web |date=11 July 2024 |title=Press Review - 'Miss Merkel': German TV show reimagining ex-chancellor as crime-fighting detective goes viral |url=https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/press-review/20240711-miss-merkel-tv-show-reimagining-ex-chancellor-as-crime-fighting-detective-goes-viral |access-date=12 July 2024 |website=France 24 |language=en |archive-date=12 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712094338/https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/press-review/20240711-miss-merkel-tv-show-reimagining-ex-chancellor-as-crime-fighting-detective-goes-viral |url-status=live}} It is based on the bestselling novels by German writer David Safier and is a comedy that was a hit in Germany and then shown on public broadcaster RAI, dubbed into Italian.{{Cite news |title=Angela Merkel's imagined new career as a detective hits Italian screens |url=https://www.ft.com/content/3c3deefb-4e91-4944-98e3-413d5b5bd65a |access-date=12 July 2024 |newspaper=Financial Times|date=12 July 2024 |last1=Chazan |first1=Guy |archive-date=12 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712053913/https://www.ft.com/content/3c3deefb-4e91-4944-98e3-413d5b5bd65a |url-status=live}}

• Public image of Angela Merkel
• Willkommenskultur

{{reflist |30em}}

{{refbegin |30em}}

• Clark, Claudia. Dear Barack: The Extraordinary Partnership of Barack Obama and Angela Merkel (2021)
• Crossley-Frolick, Katy A. "Domestic Constraints, German Foreign Policy and Post-Conflict Peacebuilding." German Politics and Society 31.3 (2013): 43–75.
• Czuczka, Tony and Alan Crawford. Angela Merkel: A Chancellorship Forged in Crisis (2013) [https://www.amazon.com/Angela-Merkel-Chancellorship-Forged-Crisis/dp/1118641108/ excerpt]
• Ferree, Myra Marx. "Angela Merkel: What Does It Mean to Run as a Woman?" German Politics & Society 2006. 24#78: 93–107. [http://www.jstor.org/stable/23742714 online]
• Faas, Thorsten. "The German federal election of 2013: Merkel's triumph, the disappearance of the liberal party, and yet another grand coalition." West European Politics 38.1 (2015): 238–247.
• Kornelius, Stefan. Angela Merkel: The Chancellor and Her World: The Authorized Biography (Alma Books, 2014).
• Marton, Kati. The Chancellor: The Remarkable Odyssey of Angela Merkel (Simon & Schuster, 2021)
• Masch, Lena, and Oscar W. Gabriel. "How Emotional Displays of Political Leaders Shape Citizen Attitudes: The Case of German Chancellor Angela Merkel." German Politics 29.2 (2020): 158–179.
• Mills, Cliff. Angela Merkel (2008), for middle schools [https://archive.org/details/angelamerkel0000mill_y6v1 online]
• Mushaben, Joyce Marie. "The Best of Times, the Worst of Times: Angela Merkel, the Grand Coalition, and 'Majority Rule' in Germany." German Politics and Society 34.1 (2016): 1–25.
• Mushaben, Joyce Marie. Becoming Madam Chancellor: Angela Merkel and the Berlin Republic (2017) [https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Madam-Chancellor-Angela-Republic/dp/1108405630/ excerpt]
• Mushaben, Joyce Marie. "A Spectre Haunting Europe: Angela Merkel and the Challenges of Far-Right Populism." German Politics and Society 38.1 (2020): 7–29.
• Mushaben, Joyce Marie. "The reluctant feminist: Angela Merkel and the modernization of gender politics in Germany." Femina Politica–Zeitschrift für feministische Politikwissenschaft 27.2 (2018): 83–95. [https://www.ssoar.info/ssoar/bitstream/handle/document/60425/ssoar-fempol-2018-2-mushaben-The_Reluctant_Feminist_Angela_Merkel.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=n online]
• Qvortrup, Matthew. Angela Merkel: Europe's most influential leader (2016) [https://www.amazon.com/Angela-Merkel/dp/0715653997/ excerpt]
• Saalfeld, Thomas. "Coalition Governance under Chancellor Merkel's Grand Coalition: A Comparison of the Cabinets Merkel I and Merkel II." German Politics and Society 28.3 (2010): 82–102.
• Schramm, Julia. Fifty Shades of Merkel. (Hoffmann & Campe, 2016), {{ISBN|978-3-455-50410-1}}
• Schnee, Christian. "Sticking to her guns or going with the flow: assessing rigidity and flexibility in Angela Merkel's political decision making." German Politics and Society 37.1 (2019): 24–46.
• Schoen, Harald. "Merely a referendum on Chancellor Merkel? Parties, issues and candidates in the 2009 German federal election." German Politics 20.1 (2011): 92–106.
• Schoen, Harald, and Robert Greszki. "A Third Term for a Popular Chancellor: An Analysis of Voting Behaviour in the 2013 German Federal Election." German Politics 23.4 (2014): 251–267.
• Skard, Torild (2014) "Angela Merkel" in Women of Power – Half a Century of Female presidents and Prime Ministers Worldwide, Bristol: Policy Press, {{ISBN|978-1-4473-1578-0}}
• Van Halsema, Catherine. 2019. "Merkel the Mutti? A Linguistic Analysis of Domestic Language in European News Media Coverage of Angela Merkel." Women & Language. 42(1): 7–22.
• Voigt, Linda. "Get the party started: The social policy of the grand coalition 2013–2017." German Politics 28.3 (2019): 426–443.
• Zehfuss, Maja. "'We Can Do This': Merkel, Migration and the Fantasy of Control." International Political Sociology 15.2 (2021): 172–189.

• Plickert, Philip (Editor) (2017) Merkel. Eine kritische Bilanz, FinanzBuch Verlag, {{ISBN|978-3-95972-065-6}}.
• Margaret Heckel: So regiert die Kanzlerin. Eine Reportage. Piper, München 2009, {{ISBN|978-3-492-05331-0}}.
• Volker Resing: Angela Merkel. Die Protestantin. Ein Porträt. St. Benno-Verlag, Leipzig 2009, {{ISBN|978-3-7462-2648-4}}.
• Gertrud Höhler: Die Patin. Wie Angela Merkel Deutschland umbaut. Orell Füssli, Zürich 2012, {{ISBN|978-3-280-05480-2}}.
• Stefan Kornelius: Angela Merkel. Die Kanzlerin und ihre Welt. Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg 2013, {{ISBN|978-3-455-50291-6}}.
• Nikolaus Blome: Angela Merkel – Die Zauderkünstlerin. Pantheon, München 2013, {{ISBN|978-3-570-55201-8}}.
• Stephan Hebel: Mutter Blamage – Warum die Nation Angela Merkel und ihre Politik nicht braucht. Westend, Frankfurt am Main 2013, {{ISBN|978-3-86489-021-5}}.
• Günther Lachmann, Ralf Georg Reuth: Das erste Leben der Angela M. Piper, München 2013, {{ISBN|978-3-492-05581-9}}.
• Judy Dempsey: Das Phänomen Merkel – Deutschlands Macht und Möglichkeiten. Edition Körber-Stiftung, Hamburg 2013, {{ISBN|978-3-89684-097-4}}.
• Dirk Kurbjuweit: Alternativlos – Merkel, die Deutschen und das Ende der Politik. Hanser, München, 2014, {{ISBN|978-3-446-24620-1}}.

{{refend}}

• [https://www.buero-bundeskanzlerin-ad.de/ Official Website of Angela Merkel's office] {{in lang|de}}
• {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203212840/https://www.bundeskanzlerin.de/bkin-en |date=3 December 2021 |title=Former Official Website of The Federal Chancellor}}
• {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207112303/https://www.angela-merkel.de/ |date=7 December 2021 |title=Merkel's personal website}} {{in lang|de}}
• [https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/711465 Angela Merkel] at the Encyclopædia Britannica
• [https://www.c-span.org/person/?angelamerkel Appearances] on C-SPAN
• [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1361767/ Angela Merkel] on IMDb
• {{Bloomberg topic|angela-merkel}}
• [https://www.economist.com/topics/angela-merkel Angela Merkel] collected news and commentary at The Economist
• [https://www.forbes.com/profile/angela-merkel/ Angela Merkel] collected news and commentary at Forbes
• [http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/m/angela_merkel/index.html "Angela Merkel collected news and commentary"]. The New York Times.
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20131106080817/http://topics.time.com/angela-merkel/ Angela Merkel] collected news and commentary at Time
• Packer, George (1 December 2014). [https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/12/01/quiet-german "The Quiet German"]. The New Yorker: 46–63. [https://web.archive.org/web/20141209073023/http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/12/01/quiet-german Archived] from the original on 9 December 2014. Retrieved 9 December 2014. The article describes Angela Merkel's life and career in East Germany and her subsequent rise to Chancellor of Germany following German reunification.
• [https://www.dw.com/en/dw-documentary-angela-merkel-navigating-a-world-in-crisis/a-59189401 Deutsche Welle documentary about Merkel's term in office] by Deutsche Welle (in English).

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