Who is german chancellor angela merkel

Merkel is a very private person. The public knows little more than the fact that her husband, Joachim Sauer, is also a scientist. The two have spent many Easters on the Italian island of Ischia. The coronavirus pandemic has changed much more in Germany than Merkel's travel habits. The country — and other nations — turned to her for answers in the crisis.

Her serious, fact-based style has boosted her popularity. Two years ago, Merkel made clear that she would not seek reelection in When she goes, she'll have served for 16 years — matching the record of her mentor Helmut Kohl, Germany's longest-serving chancellor.

Now published as a book, Herlinde Koelbl's series of portraits follow Merkel's transformation from an obscure politician into Germany's first female chancellor.

After their defeat in the German election, the Christian Democrats have decided to let the grassroots members choose the next party leader directly. But that strategy often backfires, as other parties have found. He will manage a region with a population larger than that of the Netherlands.

Olaf Scholz, who is expected to be the next German chancellor, has attended the G in his capacity as finance minister. Angela Merkel used the opportunity as a show of continuity to international partners.

Visit the new DW website Take a look at the beta version of dw. Go to the new dw. More info OK. Wrong language? Change it here DW. COM has chosen English as your language setting. World , Oct The real legacy of Angela Merkel for China-Germany relations The outgoing chancellor watched from the Bundestag visitors' gallery on Tuesday as a new, more diverse and younger parliament elected a woman from the center-left Social Democrats SPD as legislative president.

She is only the third woman to serve in that role. Ms Merkel has led her country through a number of crises, including the global financial collapse, and the coronavirus pandemic. But she announced in that she would not run in the elections that took place last month, although she remains in a caretaker role while the Social Democrats, Greens, and Free Democrats work to form a coalition.

The year-old politician told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper: "I can say with a good feeling now that it is right for someone else to take over. While she has found the job fulfilling, she said it had been challenging due to the constant need to pay attention to, prevent, or react to crises. She said that after she leaves politics, she wants to "perhaps travel a bit or read, or simply enjoy some leisure time knowing that no possible upheaval may happen in the next 20 minutes".

What next for Germany after Angela Merkel? German election: Parties set for coalition talks after Social Democrats narrowly beat Angela Merkel's party.