Supervisor Elham AbolFateh
Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

15 Years in Power.. Germany's Merkel Gets More Passion, Strength


Sun 22 Nov 2020 | 04:00 PM
Omnia Ahmed

Political icon Angela Merkel, Germany's first female Chancellor, celebrated today, Sunday, 22 November, 15 years in power as she combined passion, wisdom and strength in her work.

The Iron Lady Who Ruled for 15Years

Merkel has topped Forbes' annual ranking of the world's most powerful women for the ninth time in a row. Media has called her by many titles such as "Ms. Europe", "Frau Germania", "Iron Lady" and " Maggie Merkel".

The Iron Lady Who Ruled for 15Years

Merkel made history ever since she served as a Chancellor back, in 22 November, 2005,by becoming the first woman to rule the Federal Republic of Germany.

Merkel has made major decisions such as canceling compulsory conscription and receiving a million refugees in the refugee crisis in 2015, as well as ending her country's dependence on nuclear energy.

The Iron Lady Who Ruled for 15Years

About year ago, everyone expected an abrupt end for Merkel, upon seeing her weak and setting on a chair in official receptions for three times, in addition to having a sudden tremor in front of the cameras; however, she insisted that she was in good health, and could get out of this strong crisis.

 

The Iron Lady has an exceptional journey in politics, beginning with her assumption of the position of Minister of the Environment in 1997, then her election in 1998 as Secretary-General of the Christian Democratic Party, before assuming the presidency of the party only four years later.

The Iron Lady Who Ruled for 15Years

In 2005, she defeated the Social Democrat Gerhard Schröder, Kohl's successor as Chancellor, by a wafer-thin majority in a general election, becoming the first female chancellor in the country's history.

 

Thomas de Maiziere, a German politician who was known as "Merkel's best man", praised her by saying that is extremely passionate; however, she hides that passion a little, affirming that she does not like to show her feelings and acts with great responsibility and calm.

Thomas de Maiziere and Angela Merkel

Bernd Ulrich, the deputy editor of Die Zeit, called her a “learning machine.” “She’s not a woman of strong emotions,” he said. “Too much emotion disturbs your reason. She watches politics like a scientist.”

The Iron Lady Who Ruled for 15Years

She is also known among the Germans as "the Queen of the Night", because she used to do her work and hold meetings late at night without affecting her health or mental condition.

She announced, in December 2018 , the end of her journey with politics by the end of the current legislative period in the fall of 2021. Nonetheless, she spared no effort in confronting the epidemic coronavirus, successfully leading her country, economically and healthily, during this crisis until today.

The Iron Lady Who Ruled for 15Years

After ending her journey in politics the fall of 2021, the exceptional counselor dreams of a shuttle trip to retirement throughout the United States with her husband, without any formal procedures, guarding or business meetings.