Angela Merkel was the first woman to assume the head of the German Federal Government, and the first chancellor born in the defunct German Democratic Republic. She was appointed Federal Chancellor of Germany from 2005 to 2021 and president of the German Christian Democratic Union party since 2000. She is the longest-serving person in German history.

Resident of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), since her childhood, although born in Hamburg in 1954, she studied physics at the University of Leipzig where she received her doctorate in 1986, she did not begin her political career until 1989 after the fall of the Berlin Wall, being Minister of Youth and Family first and Minister of Environment and Nature later until 1997.

Angela Merkel became the leader of the free world, with discipline and responsibility, after having overcome the unpleasantness of a gray and monotonous life isolated by communism, a life experience, to which she attended as an external spectator, for his rejection of the totalitarian system of the German Democratic Republic, which contributed to the growth of interest in politics, promoting his inclusion in the Christian Democratic Union, through the Alliance for Germany movement.

In 1990 she formally joined the CDU to participate in the December elections aspiring to a seat in the Bundestag, being the youngest of all the elected deputies who joined the Parliament, being named Minister of Public Affairs at the age of 36. Women and Youth in the fourth government of the Christian Democrat Hermut Kohl.

In 1998 with the retirement of Chancellor Hermut Kohl, Angela Merkel first assumed the general secretary of the party and then the presidency in 2000. Unanimously elected candidate in 2005, she began her electoral campaign by announcing the increase of the value added tax to promote job creation.

After close elections, and an agreement in principles for a grand coalition, Merkel acceded to the chancellorship in 2005, of which she was president until 2017, being re-elected through new coalitions for a second, third and fourth term.

Merkel was a fighting woman who, with work, effort, caution and caution, knew how to move with restraint among the members of the national and international political world, and through her diplomacy and negotiating style, managed to take political measures with international significance such as the rescue of Greece. in the 2008 crisis.

The 2008 financial crisis was one of the biggest challenges she had to overcome during her mandate, which caused unemployment to increase to 12% in 2009, a situation to which Merkel responded with a stimulus economic recovery of 500,000 million, the reduction of taxes on companies and consumers and an increase in spending on infrastructure, measures that allowed Germany to avoid a major recession and begin the path of economic recovery in 2010.

In 2015, more than a million Syrian refugees arrived in Germany, who were welcomed thanks to the open-door policies promoted by Merkel, allowing refugees to request asylum in Germany, all in the midst of the so-called refugee crisis. caused by the thousands of people fleeing the wars in Syria and Iraq, despite the confrontation of countries like Hungary, avoiding a humanitarian refugee crisis in the heart of Europe.

During all her years in government, Merkel was a strong defender of European integration, working to strengthen cooperation between member countries, and defending European values on democracy, the rule of law and human rights. human rights, supported the rescue of Greece and other European countries, promoted the creation of the European Financial Stability Facility and supported the creation of the European Recovery Fund that provided assistance financial assistance to countries affected by the COVID19 pandemic.

Climate change was one of Merkel’s main concerns during her term. In 2015, Germany signed the Paris Agreement on climate change, pledging to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030. Merkel also promoted investment in renewable energy, and Germany became one of the world leaders in this field.

Germany is a country with a long tradition in the production of energy from coal. However, Merkel promised to reduce the use of this fossil fuel. In 2020, Germany closed the country’s last nuclear power plant, and coal is expected to be completely phased out by 2030. Merkel also supported measures to promote energy efficiency. These measures include improving the efficiency of buildings and vehicles, as well as promoting public transport.

Merkel also played an important role in international cooperation to combat climate change. Germany was one of the main drivers of the Paris Agreement, and has been a strong supporter of climate action at the United Nations. Merkel’s measures regarding climate change have had a significant impact in Germany. The country’s greenhouse gas emissions have decreased by 38% since 1990, and Germany has become one of the most advanced countries in the fight against climate change.

Angela Merkel was at the head of the German Chancellery after inheriting a half-baked reunification for sixteen years, facing the economic crisis caused by the collapse of Lehman Brothers during her first term and during her fourth and last She had to face the health and social consequences of the pandemic. During her years in office, she presided over the G8 and the European Council. In January 2022, she rejected an offer as a high-level advisor to the UN Secretary General, António Guterres.

Forbes magazine has made 15 editions of a ranking of the most powerful women in the world and more than half of the time this list has been led by Chancellor Merkel, a figure still respected in Germany and abroad and considered one of the most influential leaders in the world.