Angela Merkel
Born 1954 · Age 72
German politician and trained quantum chemist; Chancellor of Germany 2005–2021, leader of the CDU 2000–2018, prominent EU and global leader.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Hamburg (Angela Dorothea Kasner)
Born in Eimsbüttel, Hamburg, to Horst and Herlind Kasner; family moved to East Germany weeks later.
Family moved to East Germany (Quitzow / Templin)
Parents accepted a pastorate in the GDR; Merkel grew up in Templin north of East Berlin.
Joined Free German Youth (FDJ)
Joined the official East German youth organisation (nominally required for higher education access).
Completed secondary education (Abitur) with top grade
Finished school in Templin with the best possible Abitur average (1.0).
Started physics studies at Karl Marx University, Leipzig
Began undergraduate physics studies (later University of Leipzig).
Married Ulrich Merkel (first marriage)
Married fellow physics student Ulrich Merkel; later divorced in 1982 but she kept the name.
Graduated (Diploma) and joined Central Institute for Physical Chemistry
Completed diploma in physics and began work at the Academy of Sciences in Berlin-Adlershof.
Divorced Ulrich Merkel
Marriage ended; she kept the Merkel surname for professional reasons.
Published academic research and attended international conferences
Worked as a research scientist and author of several academic papers; traveled to the West and Donetsk for language course.
Awarded doctorate (Dr. rer. nat.) in quantum chemistry
Completed and defended a doctoral thesis on quantum-chemical mechanisms of bond rupture and rate calculations.
Left scientific career and entered politics after the fall of the Berlin Wall
Became involved in the democracy movement and joined Democratic Awakening amid the Revolutions of 1989.
Appointed press spokeswoman of Democratic Awakening
Named press spokeswoman for the DA party in February 1990 during the GDR's transition.
Deputy spokesperson for East German government (de Maizière cabinet)
Served briefly as deputy spokeswoman in the first democratically elected East German government.
Joined the Christian Democratic Union (CDU)
Democratic Awakening merged with the East German CDU, which merged with the West German CDU around reunification.
Elected Member of the Bundestag (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern)
Won a seat in the first post-reunification federal election representing Stralsund – Rügen – Grimmen.
Appointed Federal Minister for Women and Youth
Chancellor Helmut Kohl appointed Merkel as Minister for Women and Youth, her first federal cabinet post.
Elected leader of CDU in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Succeeded Günther Krause as head of the CDU in the state, building regional political standing.
Appointed Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety
Elevated to a higher-profile cabinet position overseeing environment and nuclear safety (Kohl government).
Chaired/Instrumental at 1995 Berlin UN Climate Conference
Played a central role in the 1995 UN climate conference in Berlin and helped secure initial international greenhouse gas commitments.
Elected General Secretary of the CDU
After the CDU's 1998 defeat, Merkel became party general secretary and helped re-organize the party after funding scandals.
Married Joachim Sauer (second marriage)
Married chemistry professor Joachim Sauer; the couple are private and seldom appear together publicly.
Elected Leader (Chairperson) of the CDU
Became the first female leader of the CDU, succeeding Wolfgang Schäuble, consolidating national party leadership.
Became Leader of the Opposition and CDU/CSU parliamentary leader
After the 2002 election, Merkel assumed the opposition leadership and led CDU/CSU strategy in the Bundestag.
Won CDU/CSU chancellor nomination for 2005 election
Secured the union's nomination to run against incumbent Gerhard Schröder in the federal election.
Federal election (CDU/CSU largest share of votes)
CDU/CSU won 35.2% of the vote leading to coalition negotiations; neither side had a clear majority.
Elected Chancellor of Germany (first female chancellor)
Elected by the Bundestag and sworn in as Chancellor heading a grand coalition (CDU/CSU and SPD).
Served as President of the European Council (first half of 2007)
Presided in H1 2007; played a central role negotiating the Treaty of Lisbon and the Berlin Declaration.
Responded to 2008 financial crisis; deposit guarantees announced
Initially resisted, then pledged to guarantee private deposits; coordinated EU stimulus planning to counter the recession.
Hypo Real Estate bailout arranged
German banks and Bundesbank arranged emergency credit support (approx. €50bn combined lines) amid crisis.
Second cabinet sworn (CDU–FDP coalition)
After the 2009 election the CDU formed a coalition with the FDP; Merkel began her second term.
Government decided to abolish conscription
November 2010 decision to suspend mandatory military service and move to a volunteer Bundeswehr; implemented July 2011.
Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom (USA)
Received the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama.
Announced nuclear phase-out following Fukushima
On 9 June 2011 Merkel declared Germany would phase out nuclear power and accelerate Energiewende.
Huge electoral victory (2013 federal election)
CDU/CSU achieved their best result since reunification; FDP fell out of the Bundestag leading to a grand coalition.
Third Merkel cabinet sworn in (grand coalition)
Formed a second grand coalition with the SPD and began her third term as Chancellor.
Russian annexation of Crimea; Nord Stream 2 initiated
Following Crimea's annexation, Merkel supported sanctions but also initiated/protected Nord Stream 2 pipeline construction with Russia.
Time Person of the Year and Forbes recognition era
Recognized globally (Time Person of the Year 2015); Forbes repeatedly named her the World's Most Powerful Woman (multiple years).
Suspended Dublin Regulation during European migrant crisis
In late August 2015 Merkel's government announced Germany would process many asylum claims and accept refugees (2015: ~1.1M arrivals).
Led CDU to plurality in 2017 federal election
CDU/CSU again largest, but with losses and rise of AfD; coalition negotiations followed and were prolonged.
Fourth Merkel cabinet sworn in
After protracted talks Merkel began a fourth term leading a third grand coalition with the SPD.
Stepped down as CDU leader
Resigned as party chairperson after leading the CDU since 2000; Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer succeeded her.
Protected Nord Stream 2 from U.S. sanctions
Took a political-economic stance protecting pipeline construction to Russia amid international criticism (2019 sanctions attempts).
Honorary Doctor of Laws, Harvard University and Commencement address
Received an honorary degree and spoke at Harvard Commencement; widely covered reflection on her leadership.
Managed COVID-19 pandemic response in Germany
Led federal response to the pandemic; German approach received international attention for testing and health measures.
Did not seek fifth term; 2021 federal election without Merkel candidate
Announced she would not run in 2021; CDU performed poorly in her absence, SPD formed a new government later in 2021.
Left office as Chancellor (end of chancellorship)
Stepped down on 8 December 2021 after almost 16 years; succeeded by Olaf Scholz.
Legacy scrutinised after Russian invasion of Ukraine; UNHCR Nansen Award
Following the 2022 Russian invasion, Merkel's Russia policy was re-evaluated; UNHCR granted her the Nansen Award for refugee stance.
Received Germany's top order of merit (special Großkreuz)
Awarded a special issue of the Grand Cross for her contributions as Chancellor.
Ongoing public commentary and influence post-chancellorship
Continues to be a significant voice in public debates, subject of biographies, TV dramatizations and commentaries.
Memoir 'Freedom' scheduled for publication
Published a memoir titled 'Freedom' (reported publication/major book deal slated for November 2024).
Key Achievement Ages
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