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[[File:Merkel.jpg|thumb|Merkel between the flags of Germany (left) and the European Union (EU)]]'''Angela Merkel'''  (born 17th July 1954) was elected in December 2013 to her third term as the chancellor of Germany, the top position for a broad coalition government.<ref>http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/17/world/europe/germany-merkel/</ref> She is also the leader of the German [[Christian Democratic Party]] (CDU), representing conservatives. She has served as the chancellor of Germany since 2005, a position comparable to the prime minister in other parliamentary forms of government.

[[File:Merkel.jpg|thumb|Merkel between the flags of Germany (left) and the European Union (EU)]]'''Angela Merkel'''  (born 17th July 1954) was elected in December 2013 to her third term as the chancellor of Germany, the top position for a broad coalition government.<ref>http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/17/world/europe/germany-merkel/</ref> She is also the leader of the German [[Christian Democratic Party]] (CDU), historically Germany's conservative party. She has served as the chancellor of Germany since 2005, a position comparable to prime minister. She is a champion of the euro and of the migration of Syrian refugees to Europe.<ref>Milton Friedman detailed the disadvantages of the euro in "[https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/the-euro--monetary-unity-to-political-disunity The Euro: Monetary Unity To Political Disunity?]"</ref>

==Early Life==

==Early Life==

Merkel grew up in the Communist [[East Germany]] just outside Berlin.  Merkel was educated in Templin and at the University of Leipzig, where she studied physics (1973-1978).

Merkel grew up in the Communist [[East Germany]] just outside Berlin.  Merkel was educated in Templin and at the University of Leipzig, where she studied physics (1973-1978).

She worked and studied at the Central Institute for Physical Chemistry of the Academy of Sciences (1978-1990). After graduating with a doctorate in physics working in quantum chemistry. In 1989 she became involved in the growing [[democracy]] movement and, after the fall of the [[Berlin Wall]], she got a job as government spokesperson following the first democratic elections.  She joined the CDU two months before German reunification and within three months she was in [[Helmut Kohl]]'s cabinet as minister for women and youth. In 1994 she was made minister for the environment.  

She worked and studied at the Central Institute for Physical Chemistry of the Academy of Sciences (1978-1990). After graduating with a doctorate in physics working in quantum chemistry. In 1989 she became involved in the growing [[democracy]] movement and, after the fall of the [[Berlin Wall]], she got a job as government spokesperson following the first democratic elections.  She joined the CDU two months before German reunification and within three months she was in [[Helmut Kohl]]'s cabinet as minister for women and youth. In 1994 she was made minister for the environment.  

Her East German background has stood her in good stead. For the first 36 years of her life, she honed her skills at covering up or suppressing her feelings -- essential in a society where practically every room contained a [[Stasi]] informer, especially if you were a pastor's daughter. Speaking near perfect English and remarking on her background as an Ossi she says, "Anyone who really has something to say doesn't need make-up".

Her East German background has stood her in good stead. For the first 36 years of her life, she honed her skills at covering up or suppressing her feelings -- essential in a society where practically every room contained a [[Stasi]] informer, especially if you were a pastor's daughter. Speaking near perfect English and remarking on her background as an Ossi she says, "Anyone who really has something to say doesn't need make-up".

==2005 victory==

==2005 victory==

Merkel was first elected as chancellor of Germany in 2005. She ruled together with the left-center [[SPD]] until 2009.<ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/10518099/Germanys-Social-Democrats-vote-to-form-grand-coalition-with-Angela-Merkel.html</ref>

Merkel was first elected as chancellor of Germany in 2005. She ruled together with the left-center [[SPD]] until 2009.<ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/10518099/Germanys-Social-Democrats-vote-to-form-grand-coalition-with-Angela-Merkel.html</ref>

==2009 Victory==

==2009 victory==

[[File:Germ-vote-2009.jpg|300px|thumb|Exit polls from Sept. 2009 election won by the conservative coalition CDU and FDP]]

[[File:Germ-vote-2009.jpg|300px|thumb|Exit polls from Sept. 2009 election won by the conservative coalition CDU and FDP]]

The September 2009 elections were a major win for the conservative forces led by Chancellor Merkel, breaking a stalemate and opening the way for more conservative economic policies. Previously since an indecisive election in 2005 the [[Christian Democratic Union|Christian Democrats]] (CDU: Christlich Demokratische Union) (on the center-right) formed a "grand coalition" with the Social Democrats ([[SPD]]: Sozial Demokratische Partei)(on the center-left), headed by Frank-Walter Steinmeier. 2009 Merkel and her CDU formed a coalition with the libertarian, pro-business [[Free Democratic Party|Free Democrats]] (FDP: Freie Demokratische Partei). Left in the cold was the SPD, the [[Alliance '90/The Greens|Greens]], and the ex-Communists who remain strong in the former East Germany under the name "[[The Left]]" (Die Linke). Merkel moved forward on tax cuts, reform of the tax code, reduction of bureaucracy and a extension of the time that nuclear power plants can continue to operate.  

The September 2009 elections were a major win for the conservative forces led by Chancellor Merkel, breaking a stalemate and opening the way for more conservative economic policies. Previously since an indecisive election in 2005 the center-right [[Christian Democratic Union|Christian Democrats]] formed a "grand coalition" with the center-left Social Democrats, headed by Frank-Walter Steinmeier. 2009 Merkel and her CDU formed a coalition with the libertarian, pro-business [[Free Democratic Party|Free Democrats]]. Left in the cold was the [[Alliance '90/The Greens|Greens]], and the ex-Communists who remain strong in the former East Germany under the name "[[The Left]]." Merkel moved forward on tax cuts, reform of the tax code, reduction of bureaucracy and a extension of the time that nuclear power plants can continue to operate.  

The victory enhanced her reputation as Europe's top political power broker, as Merkel became the first leader of a major European country to win reelection since the [[Recession of 2008|global financial crisis]] struck last year. Voters generally approved of her response to the recession, even though it has hammered Germany's export-dependent economy and has resulted in a huge amount of public debt. She countered criticism by blaming the crisis on Wall Street, and engaging in a modest stimulus program.<ref>Craig Whitlock, "Germany's Merkel Reelected Easily, Will Form New Coalition," [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/27/AR2009092700631.html?nav=emailpage ''Washington Post'' Sept. 28, 2009]</ref>

The victory enhanced her reputation as Europe's top political power broker, as Merkel became the first leader of a major European country to win reelection since the [[Recession of 2008|global financial crisis]] struck last year. Voters generally approved of her response to the recession, even though it has hammered Germany's export-dependent economy and has resulted in a huge amount of public debt. She countered criticism by blaming the crisis on Wall Street, and engaging in a modest stimulus program.<ref>Craig Whitlock, "Germany's Merkel Reelected Easily, Will Form New Coalition," [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/27/AR2009092700631.html?nav=emailpage ''Washington Post'' Sept. 28, 2009]</ref>

Domestically, Merkel recognises the need for change in the country's consensual model. "In Germany, we are always facing the danger that we are a little bit too slow. We have to speed up our changes."

Domestically, Merkel recognises the need for change in the country's consensual model. "In Germany, we are always facing the danger that we are a little bit too slow. We have to speed up our changes."

==See Also==

==See also==

==Further reading==

==Further reading==