| Angela Dorothea Merkel (born Angela Dorothea Kasner on July 17, 1954, Hamburg) is a German politician and party leader of the Christian Democratic Union since April 10, 2000. Since November 21, 2005, Angela Merkel is the Chancellor of Germany after her CDU party’s victory, headed by her, at the early parliamentary elections in September 2005.
Biography:
Parents and early childhood (1954—1960):
Angela Merkel was born in Hamburg to Horst and Herlind Kasner.
Economic and social policies:
From the end of 2000, Angela Merkel was trying to introduce the concept of the “new social market economy”, based on the popular term the “socio-oriented market economy”. In indistinct points, which did not have concrete realization, regulations are guessed, which are already familiar according to the 1999 joint document of Schröder-Blair. The CDU panel under the chairmanship of Merkel developed the debatable project by August 27, 2001, which was accepted in December 2001 by the federal congress in Dresden and which has become the policy document of the CDU party.
Political views:
Foreign policies:
The settlement of military conflicts:
On the eve of the war in Iraq, Angela Merkel extended her support to the USA and the ”Coalition partners” in relation to their policies with respect to Iraq. During a visit to the US as a leader of opposition, she criticized the foreign policy of the federal government therefore giving rise to a strong negative reaction in the governmental circles of Berlin. The chairman of the parliamentary fraction of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SDPG) Franz Muntefering assessed Merkel's statement as “yielding to American administration”.
In her speech in German Bundestag on March 19, 2003, Merkel stated that the CDU supports giving an ultimatum to Saddam Hussain, which could be the “last chance to preserve peace” and urged the federal government to follow this example so as to “really prevent war in Iraq”.
The principal views of Angela Merkel on the settlement of military conflicts appear to be from publications during this period. Merkel took part in NATO in the 1999 Kosovo conflict and drew historical parallels with the history of the country.
“Our own historical past reminds us of the need for preserving peace as the greatest value and use of all facilities to avoid military conflicts. However, it forces us to remember, which is misunderstood, radical pacifism can lead to death and use of force, despite inflicted sufferings, is inevitable so as to avoid even more harm. A contemporary history of Europe shows that the war with dictators can be the “last argument”. The use of forces by “Coalition partners” in the Kosovo war prevented further suffering.”
President of EU in 2007
Angela Merkel and federal Minister of Foreign Affairs Frank-Walter Steinmeier represented Germany, executing their duties as EU Presidents from January 1 till June 30, 2007.
Among the most important aspects of political activity during her tenure as EU President, Angela Merkel called for an Agreement for introducing a constitution for Europe, protection of climate, power policy, reinforcing transatlantic economic cooperation and good-neighborly relations with the countries of the Black Sea region and Central Asia.
Merkel insisted that the reference to God and the Christian belief was consolidated in the EU Constitution. However, this realization could not be possible even after having support from Poland, Ireland and Italy: The treaty of Lisbon only refers to “cultural, religious and the humanistic heritage of Europe”.
Foreign languages:
Angela Merkel knows Russian and English.
Family:
During her third year at the University of Leipzig, Angela met Ulrich Merkel, who was also a physics student. A year later, they were married and she changed her maiden name Kasner to Merkel. In 1981 they started leading separate lives and a year later, they finally were divorced. Later, Merkel recalled about her matrimonial experience: “We got married because everyone was getting married. Today, it sounds silly but I was serious enough towards marriage. I was deceived”. In 1984, Angela started dating chemist Joachim Sauer, who at that time was a married-man. On December 30, 1998, Angela Merkel and Joachim Sauer were married. The couple doesn’t have children.
Interesting facts:
* At the age of 36, she was the youngest minister in Helmut Kohl’s cabinet;
* Due to the unwillingness to be the centre of public attention, Professor Joachim Sauer did not attend the inaugural ceremony of his spouse;
* The magazine “Forbes” named Angela Merkel “the most powerful woman-politician in the world” for the last 3 years.
* In February 2009, a special version of the Barbie doll with a rust-white colored bunch of hair and wearing a pantsuit was released;
* Sometimes Angela Merkel is called the “Teutonic Margaret Thatcher”. |
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday won the center-right majority that eluded her four years ago — nudging Europe's biggest economic power to the right as it claws its way out of a deep recession. Given her strong leadership and capacity for adapting, Angela Merkel is already said to be Germany's Maggie Thatcher.
