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[[File:Merkel.jpg|thumb|Merkel between the flags of Germany (left) and the European Union (EU)]]

[[File:Merkel.jpg|thumb|Merkel between the flags of Germany (left) and the European Union (EU)]]

:''For more on Merkel's destructive immigration policies, see [[European migrant crisis]]''

:''For more on Merkel's destructive immigration policies, see [[European migrant crisis]]''

'''Angela Merkel''' (born 17 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 mass migration of Middle Eastern and North African 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>

'''Angela Dorothea Merkel''' (born 17 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 mass migration of Middle Eastern and North African 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==

==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 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 an 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 liberal [[Free Democratic Party|Free Democrats]]. Left in the cold was the [[Alliance '90/The Greens|Greens]], and the ex-Communists who remain strong under the name "[[The Left]]." Merkel moved forward on tax cuts, reform of the tax code, reduction of bureaucracy and an 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>