Returns home. In tangs. X. She has guided not only germany but europe through the. Cross currents of the changing world. The foreign charm chancellor of germany for an excellent see the lot there are. A standing ovation and an honorary doctorate for the woman who has led germany for nearly 14 years and appearance they had been announced by Harvard University with a glossy promotional trailer. A video with all the trappings of a hollywood blockbuster. Yet just a few months earlier the chancellor had announced she would not seek reelection is a few of them this 4th time will be my last as chancellor of the federal republic of germany. The announcement heralded the end of an era even as other World Leaders came and went until america remained a central figure for 13 years she had served as a mediator and crisis manager on the world stage. How could such a seemingly unassuming woman succeed in remaining in office for so many years. When it comes to being underestimated can be very useful at times because it takes a while to become clear that big things lie ahead. She could push a she has a modest and unpretentious demeanor and she has 0 interest in material things these days in the in her 13 years as chancellor and 18 years is the head of the party shes remained completely free of scandal. Shes certainly been able to take advantage of the fact that germany places a very high value on stability. Yet in a way i think america deserves some of the blame for the trouble in the europe right a lot of people. Believe that might not have happened i would say she has no strategy she has no strategic goal where she wants to take society and thats her true flaw its a discovery stay with your money in the sky and theres no red thread of conviction for there is is a pragmatics of the power. 2005 the polls had just closed in what appeared a dead heat but the incumbent chancellor Gerhard Schroeder seemed to short of victory and. Do you seriously believe that my party will agree to an offer of talks under these circumstances after america has said she wants to be chancellor carried away. By nov 22nd the winner of the showdown was clear the newly elected bundestag made chancellor at 51 she was the youngest ever to hold that position. Votes in favor 197. Her predecessor was not the only one who had underestimated her. Dear dr america you have now become germanys 1st democratically elected female head of government that sends a powerful message to many women and no doubt to some men as well. For us in germany to get used to the idea that a woman was doing the job. She never made a song and dance about coming from the former east germany or being a woman that would have done nothing for her any. Kind of being a woman is not a political culture great so i cant think of anything about said that you could explain by saying its because shes a woman. Theyre also men who focus on. Careful in their deliberations. Finished anything it would have to be her distain for pretension her concept of pallor also her tendency to avoid showy displays of power of fashion which she always saw her as absurd. Furnish a fish for. Until america was raised in the former communist east germany she spent a quiet untroubled childhood on the outskirts of the town of templin. Its been i grew up in the countryside which was one of the things that shaped me. Up in a clergymans household and had terence i could discuss anything with. It was an upbringing with a lot of intellectual stimulation you know more than youd normally see in a small town in east germany and. Only there i know she was born until a customer in hamburg west germany in 1954 a few weeks before her father except that a post as pastor in the east. I was an ordinary child i might have had the odd tantrum or 2 but i wasnt particularly stubborn nor valiants the baelish watch list. It was a childhood between 2 worlds raised as a christian under a communist regime. Like the 1980 s. Im going to america had a doctorate in physics and was working at the academy of sciences in east berlin her 1st marriage ended in divorce but she kept her former husbands last name marco. What was looking like a quiet life as a Research Scientist was interrupted on november 9th 1989. The wall dividing east from west germany fell. Down whatever she said to me. Mutha ive never been much of a civic activist so joining an activist movement isnt my thing she said shed also considered the social democrats and january 990 they still look like they might do really well here but then she thought that make it on their own we need something new that was her pragmatic mind speaking and then came the east german Democratic Movement the democratic awakening which included pastor ryan a epa man she said its chaos there they need me to follow. Soon thereafter in spring 1900 until america was appointed deputy spokesperson for the 1st and only democratically elected east German Government that was the turning point she joined the christian democrats the c. D. U. And began a rapid and grueling rise up the political ladder. Young a woman and from the east a fresh face for chance to help michaels west and male dominated city you calls protege america was appointed minister for women and youth in the 1st cabinet of the reunify germany in november 1909 a year after losing the chancellorship cole was still the honorary chair and gruelling patriarch of the christian democrats but then came a scandal. Party the c. D. U. Had run an illicit slush Fund Involving donor contributions it was the biggest scandal in postwar german politics. Until America Program and made a move that would rock the already shaken old guard. In a prominent daily she wrote an article proclaiming the end of the coal era. A few months later merkel was party chairwoman. This was the moment she would later revealed when she 1st building she could become chancellor. The men thought lets make this mother figure party leader and send her packing after a year. Most to the fire that proved to be a huge miscalculation because she sent them packing. In 2005 and get a miracle and her party had a narrow win her 1st government was a coalition of her christian democrats there were very insistent party the c. S. U. And the deposed social democrats it made little headway at 1st and was slow to implement reforms in her 1st 2 years america was a cautious leader critics said she was just muddling through. Im somebody who tends to decide on the names. Im often accused of being slow to get out of the starting block slow to take action of letting things drift on. But for me its always important to work through all the possible options as to what should be done and not just as a theoretical exercise or a thought experiment i try to live with the. Living through going to turns to hesitate to give up and wait for majority opinion to emerge before taking a stand but sometimes she gets a joy to makes a decision from one day to the next and its us about math. That goes 1st major challenges chances are came during her 3rd year in office the Global Financial crisis required intensive management major banks were in danger of collapse and the merkel government provided billions of euros to save them. The chancellor assured the public that their deposits were safe. While her diplomatic touch and talent for compromise were often interpreted at home as a weakness abroad they arent her respect and brains at the 2007. G 8 summit on germanys baltic coast miracle succeeded with a mix of principle and persuasion in getting the assembled leaders to agree on a Climate Change strategy. She even brought on board u. S. President george w. Bush not the most environmentally aware of contemporary statesman. Its a very important quality to be able to engage with your counterparts and to them i take you seriously im listening and i want to hear what you have to say. Thats what. You underestimate her youve already launched she is always very very well prepared and she knows all the details. So you have to really know the material you want to have a serious discussion with her. Through. The 2009 elections saw the c. D. U. C. S. U. Bloc post their 2nd worst showing in 60 years but they still managed to secure a coalition with their preferred partners the center right free democrats. Although the economy was struggling the new Government Cut taxes and took on record new debt. But the dream turned sour as the coalition became beset with internal squabbles. Meaningful policy making proved elusive important debates were overshadowed by rivalries within the coalition. For the chancellor it was an often frustrating experience. In late 2010 merkels government decided to extend the lifespan of germanys Nuclear Power plants. Just months later it made a dramatic u. Turn. And then also in fukushima happened the Nuclear Disaster in japan and within a week or 2 america had changed course on that and decided no were going to get out of Nuclear Power that upset a lot of people in our conservative party but upset a lot of people in german industry theyre afraid of Rising Energy costs but she did it was an emotional sort of reaction to the. Nuclear disaster in fukushima. Not just that i realized straight away that this would also affect us all and then i quickly decided that we would need at the very least a social consensus were guarding the use of nuclear energy. Someone with a cannon and. I believe it was a kind of overnight decision. She decided to seize the opportunity and also to send a message to society. And her name would be associated with the decision to end Nuclear Power and she would end up in the history books because she spoke. Within germany the fukushima disaster put an end to a discussion that had dragged on for years the longstanding Energy Policy debate seemingly vanished overnight. Merkels government decided to decommission Nuclear Plants by 2022 and to rapidly scale up the use of renewable energy. During merkels 2nd term the Global Financial and economic crisis remained a pivotal issue and developed into a euro crisis. Southern euro zone stayed. Were in dire straits while greece appeared headed for bankruptcy. The german chancellor repeatedly insisted that greece would only receive a bailout if the country agreed to reduce public spending and institute austerity reforms. That we didnt mr president ladies and gentlemen and phil its must be focused not on rushing in to help prematurely us. But on ensuring that the entire house is put in order. That stands faced little opposition within her own ranks unlike in greece as athens slashed Public Sector wages and pensions and fired Civil Servants protesters in greece singled out one person to blame until america is this she doesnt care a whole what kind of image is being drawn what she cares about is political consistency to gains. At this point. In mid 2013 towards the end of merkels 2nd term the n. S. A. Spying scandal broke details emerged of a widespread internet and telephone Surveillance Program run by washington for many on going to medical response was too little too late. Ever since we started to talk about the n. S. A. I have repeatedly telling the american president that we dont spy on africans it gone. Comments were intended to show resolve but instead revealed impotence. It was only after learning that the n. S. A. Had also tune into her own cell phone but an indignant chancellor seemed to mean business the guns of germanys entire government is cowardly and submissive so they dont dare stand up to the us. As if speaking as a private citizen i would say she was too restrained especially considering she had 1st hand experience of living under a dictatorship. But met those Approval Ratings were barely dented by the n. S. A. Scandal voters trusted her it seemed in part because she avoided conflict one day lee called her the perfect chancellor for citizens who dont like trouble and dont want to be bothered by politics. With. But when it came to her own Political Party medical proved willing to turn her back on traditional positions. For some conservative stalwarts her decisions to phase out Nuclear Power and to military conscription and support a National Minimum wage were hard to stomach. This instance is an entirely different era from that of helmut kohl or conrad i dont know. Its hard to believe its the. But you have to remember she didnt make those changes on. The c. D. U. In line with reality. By its fans and was this her own accomplishment or just a reflection of the changing times by both sides and that side times it. Was setting a different agenda from that of his predecessors. Over the years. In keeping her private life out of the public gaze she never felt the urge to play to the cameras but her sober down to earth style contributed significantly to her popularity. People see 3 things in her that they like things that dont involve her strategy or her goals. She has a modest unpretentious demeanor. 0 interest in material things thats both unusual and appealing on. The 2013 general election represented a landslide victory for the christian democrats although it did mean returning to a coalition with the s. P. D. 3rd term in office would see the economy continue its recovery. On other fronts however the chancellor had major crises to contend with. Early 2014 dramatic scenes in ukraine where pro european protests on my down square in the capital kiev led to the ousting of president Viktor Yushchenko fitch. Russia proceeded to annex the Crimean Peninsula in Eastern Ukraine and rebels and separatists rose up against the government with the support of moscow. Chancellor issued a sharp protest against that intervention and indorsed economic sanctions against russia. Together with french president Francois Hollande she embarked on a Difficult Mission in the capital of bella ruth minsk. U. S. President barack obama left to 2 european leaders to tackle the crisis with russia and try to establish dialogue between the warring parties. Levis. If you compare a word politics to a game of chess she knows which pieces to move and when. She feels theres no point in saying thats an ugly chess piece i want nothing to do with it. She knows that wont move the chess came forward at times like that she does what needs to be done. Over the years she has become a highly respected figure of authority on the international stage. Perhaps thats because of her political style tends to avoid issuing hastie if unions about rights and wrongs was sufficient even at the International Level she prefers to weigh up all the options and reflect on them this is a vacant. Last moment. Shock and when she does make a decision its a sustainable one and theyve been in trying to get tough and tweaked the. Medical help to bring the warring sides to the negotiating table the result was a ceasefire albeit a fragile one. In early 2015 the greek crisis returned to the spotlight the newly elected government rejected further austerity measures the coalition of the left wing to reach the party and right wing nationalists announced its intention to renegotiate all the deals their predecessors had made with International Creditors greece seemed on the brink of exiting the euro zone. After protective negotiations the euro Group Finance ministers agreed to a compromise a package with strings attached. Merkel and her finance minister a vote can show it persuaded greece to abandon its initial objections and agree to further reforms greeces potential departure from the euro the dreaded grex it at once again been averted. She had. A gun stock she argued her case very vigorously and i think that points to an essential feature of Angela Merkels approach to politics. She sticks to her guns and expects others to make the commitments theyve made. The biggest mistake im. Going to work on show of the maid is in their dealings with greece because they broke with the principle of solidarity. Greece miracle with real villain by a lot of people but she had the courage to keep going to greece and talking to people and she tried to explain the situation in greece and the end of the day greece was able to stay in the euro zone. Shortly after the prospect of a greek euro exit appeared resolved another crisis emerged in summer 2015 that overshadowed all others hundreds of thousands of migrants and refugees were passing through turkey and greece heading for central and western europe and especially germany. Most were fleeing the brutal war in syria. In the face of a humanitarian disaster in the making. Took a very clear stand. And germany is a strong country. As we deal with these issues much time has to be we have achieved so much we can do it if we encounter obstacles well overcome them. Germany was to welcome refugees with open arms and initially at least the mood in the country was a positive one. The world caught a glimpse of a new unfamiliar germany and chancellor within weeks her International Image was transformed from hardline austerity advocate to the chancellor of welcome there was even talk of her winning the nobel peace prize. Theres something i think america is going to be remembered about for a long long time around the world the reputation of germany went through the roof after that it was like especially in those states with all my god they lived in a 1000000 refugees in 2015 you got to be kidding me. But that example didnt go down so well in southeastern europe where refugees werent so welcome hungary sooner recta the border fence while various balkan states fast tracked the new arrival straight through to austria and germany. So much for the solidarity between european nations the brief summary of exuberant welcome came to a sudden end. And meanwhile found herself accused of positively inviting refugees to come. There were 2 groups 2 responses those who drew inspiration and encouragement who felt called upon to remain active in the refugee situation to open their doors to refugees. They took a kind of pride in what the chancellor had said heard it as a mark of praise. And then there was the other side which didnt hear reassurance and encouragement but who instead responded with fear. But in this forced off going. That. Soon a mood of fear and hostility had erupted in germany as well extremists set fire to refugee hostels and attacked German Police officers and journalist the anti immigrant anti muslim piggy a movement enjoyed a resurgence of support especially in the eastern state of saxony where thousands took to the streets. Criticism of merkels refugee policy mounted within her own ranks once again the chancellors position was divorced from that of her party. Rival in the governing coalition hostas a hope for issued a public reprimand at the c. S. U. Party conference he forced merkel to stand on stage for 13 minutes while he gave her a dressing down. Perhaps they were laughing themselves silly that they taken this very high podium and say who is the big guy on it fall next to it im going to machall as though theyre in school and the teacher said you go stand in the corner and be quiet because then came the to write that to rage against merkel and her policies she just had to stand. And see she did and. That was a travesty what has their opinion of angle of machall many people felt that this kind of treatment did real harm to our political culture. And put it to rest just. Cologne on new years eve 2015. The celebrations near the cathedral became the scene of mass assaults women were sexually harassed groped robbed some were raped the victims describe their attackers as men of arabic or north african descent far right populist sees the movement claiming merkels refugee policy. That their side was the far right a. F. B. Party which had initially formed an opposition to the euro and the e. U. Bailout but by then it had become anti immigrant and it joined the attack. Club and. Mob group will come think more clearly as i lack a few things that church that angle americal in some way caused or promoted the influx of refugees is absurd for both the. Site was research a long time we ignored the thousands of people arriving on lampedusa it was. The thousands drowning in the mediterranean tolls and in a legal thousands living under terrible conditions in cali waiting to. Somehow make it to britain. Mit these are in the what weve seen in recent years has been the systematic demonization ahead of the policy thats been given merkels name the. Common. With her statement we can do it until america had however inadvertently taken a risk now she was left isolated on the political stage her popularity at home declined. After years of going from strength to strength the chancellor was suddenly floundering. By then thousands of refugees were crossing the border every day. The German Federal states and municipalities were struggling to cope. Under intense pressure until america set out on a thankless mission to negotiate a deal with turkey that would stem the arrival of refugees. Going to medical is a pragmatist and in that situation she realized things couldnt continue as they were thats what was behind her decision to stand. So germany is strong and good in that situation germany suddenly looked weak on so now would she want to add iran and indirectly provided human is about who are in his Election Campaign i was there and said that we looked the other way while he was bombs the Kurdish People that we remain silent about is in direct or direct support for the socalled Islamic State all to make sure he keeps the refugees away a bitter defeat. Within just months the open doors had shut. For the 2nd time the chancellor had done a u. Turn once again she stood alone between 2 fronts now criticism hailed down from the left and applause came from the right the. Number of refugees arriving in germany plummeted as quickly as it had risen. The next crisis was brewing britain was in the grips of a raging debate. For months politicians have been whipping up anti e. U. Sentiment. That the e. U. Is making a mess of that actually everything 1st we have the euro zone then we have the e. U. Is common asylum policy compounded hugely by Angela Merkel i what weve seen huge streams of people coming into europe over the course of the last year no security checks anybody every week we send a 150000000. 00 plus the money thats placed. Thats enough to build a new hospital week these numbers were a fiction put forth by a Referendum Campaign to leave the European Union to remain or to leave in the end a slim majority of british voters decided in favor of bracks it. Thats what it got down you know the history. In the right. I mean it was a man with regrets we must today recognise the decision of the majority of the british people i think shes deeply hurt by britain leaving the European Union i think secretly should probably hopes theyll be a 2nd referendum some day and maybe that will be overturned and forced end of the o. P. s on your. Cereal imagine that when uncle america was still living behind the iron curtain when germany was still divided on the European Union was something very compelling for her now to give us i mustnt fizzy. And scenes of. So picked the freedom that europe gave the west and prevailed in the west of our country was something she could only dream of and investigation talent could be at an all time clinton but its something that historians will always be looking at that 2015 flood of refugees coming in from syria to germany and then the brics a vote half year or so later so are those 2 things connected probably they are. Across the atlantic the United States was also at a turning point barack obama made a final trip abroad as president. On social media he paid tribute to the chancellor as a close ally. Across the board shes always been somebody i can trust and somebody who i think deeply believes in. The role that germany can play and that all wealthy nations can play in not only making our countries better but also making the world better their relationship at the beginning of their 8 years together wasnt really that close it was a bit frosty but it evolved and i think it became a really close close friendship theres pictures in the german newspapers of them looking into it like theyre the best friends for life and i think medical and obama appreciated and respected each other and i think obama relied on america for a lot of things. The last good luck from obama and a farewell that left a visible dent in the chancellors normal composure. That with Barack Obamas departure she was losing one of her most Important International allies. The new occupant of the white house had other priorities we are going to make America Great again we will make America Great again we wrote. Great. Words soon became deeds it became clear that the relationship between the u. S. And germany was shifting the. Kind of the times in which we could fully rely on office and not she going to buy. The end of the universe is in a certain sense important and meaningful to her as a sign that must make it all the more painful that relations have now become so strained in the wake of this america 1st policy that this causes america 1st. Which doesnt accord with her own understanding of how politics should operate at all. Its the shades politics as the antithesis of seeking to gain advantage at the expense of others she always seeks to find that balance also shes resisted trumps efforts to split europe trump keeps trying to get marigold to do deals and stealing things and tries to get medical to convince the rest of the europe paean union to do these deals that are favorable to trump but she refuses she pushes that all of brussels so at least trump americal do talk to each other and i think my sense is that trump understands how important all is. Well that may be true its not always apparent at their 1st joint press Conference Donald Trump get on the cold shoulder. But. I think. That whats going to america maintains an unflappable confidence in situations where her counterpart perhaps a man who is critical of her is attempting to provoke her and i think that what by city thing in situations like that she grit your teeth and maintains her poise and never appears awkward or ungracious. But her response makes it clear that her counterpart has behaved in a way that wasnt right. Not that thats one of the positive traits about america that she stays relaxed shes willing to talk to anybody she doesnt have this male macho persona about her shes a consummate deal maker and she does it without without an ego she doesnt let or ego get in the way shes just trying to get results. And frappes emmanuelle ascended to the presidency with ambitions to be remembered as a staunch defender of a new year. In austria 31 year old Sebastien Cortes became chancellor another in a new wave of youthful politicians that contrast with the chancellors stage leadership style. Kamber july 2017 at the g 20 summit until america once again sought to win the support of World Leaders for existing agreements on free trade and climate protection in vain within just a few weeks donald trump announced that the us was withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accord abandoning global trade deals and imposing tariffs merkels efforts at International Cooperation were increasingly meeting closed doors. Began to seek new partners for her policies. Within 2 and a half years she paid visits to 12 african nations some more than once by strengthening International Cooperation and establishing new conditions for Development Aid the chancellor aims to stem the conditions that lead africans to attempt to cross into europe. Africa has now become a centerpiece of until americas Foreign Policy and Development Aid has become linked to immigration policy. Given your words together we want to send a clear message today that is good and productive neighborly relations between africa and europe are important to us. Back at home a fresh crisis was brewing the 2017 general elections brought merkels coalition in its worst ever showing her social democratic partners lost the most votes in their view because the centrist coalition eroded their own base of support. Merkel is a genius when it comes to weakening other parties shes taken away a lot of the platforms of the s. P. D. And made them her own the cd was always against the minimum wage proof theres a minimum wage no america gets credit for it. The gay marriage is something the city was always opposed and america voted against it but she actually made it possible to have gay marriages in germany because she let the deputies in Parliament Vote the way they wanted to not to unleash. Of course by opening her party to the center and her policy reforms within her own party she was taking a risk i. Want and thats the anger of the right wing of her own party. In that sense she does bear some responsibility for the rise of the n. F. T. And for the fact that the f. T. Has been able to garner such strong support on the right wing of her own party. For the 1st time to the far right entered the German Parliament merkel sought to form a new Coalition Government with the green party and probusiness free democrats after weeks of negotiations the f. D. P. Withdrew. Its its better not to govern than to govern incorrectly. Americans surely regretted that as did many germans and was a 1st and you have to figure that many people are growing rather weary with this lengthy term in office not to mention always with the same political partner. Its not as appealing as being able to chart a fresh course with someone else and political. After a vigorous intervention by the german president and an s. P. D. Party member a vote the social democrats agree to enter into another grand coalition more than 5 months had passed since the election the longest that the federal republic of germany has ever gone without a government. The months of uncertainty extracted their price in the 28. 00 team state elections the partys Americas Coalition saw their combined vote dropped by more than 20 percent the left and right came the most particularly the far right f. T. A trend that solidified in the 2900 European Parliament election. Baffled bowed to the reality that her centrist course could no longer command a majority she announced her plans to withdraw from politics. Essence at the next cd you Party Conference in hamburg in december i will not stand for election as party leader. Second this 4th term in office will be my last as chancellor of the federal republic of germany. In the 2021 federal elections i will not seek another term as chancellor for the christian democrats i think. Medical has been looking for the right moment to lead for a long long time it was one little small incident but shes a big soccer fan and after the world cup when the captain phillips quit she was the 1st to congratulate him on that and i thought wow she must admire him for picking the right moment because. Thats something i think thats been the back of her mind i think she saw helmut kohl as somebody who stayed a little bit to law. And yet americas political philosophy had always been one of soft power during the election for her successor as party leader she remained a potent force in the background. And a great comp and power medicals favored candidate became head of the c. D. U. I think in general germany has become a very prosperous successful country under marigot shes done a good job steering the ship and people are generally pretty happy with merkel and im actually had things in my bit upset under the miracle has always been willing to enter into open sided situations was in situations without an obvious outcome to negotiations that was one of her key strengths it was down. Over many years the chancellor from the former east germany was able to make her mark on politics often overcoming resistance from within her own party or from International Partners for her final 2 years on the political stage now lie ahead which will surely bring fresh challenges the last chapter of uncle americas legacy is yet to be written. More. Enter the conflict zone confronting the powerful i guess this week outside the capital of taipei is cho she way of seeking the nomination of these fro beijing fast enough to convince her as china forces with the increasing urgency for reunification and the time when east continue to reject it. As his party come to a conflict. Units. Freedom of movement in a united europe. Is a reality that affects a number of private citizens and businesses. What opportunities to 0 flight freedom of movement for. Benefits what is the potential for abuse. 90 minutes on d w. Every journey begins with the 1st step and every language but the 1st word published in the. Code is in germany to learn german why not with him simple online on your mobile and free to sapps d w z e learning course nikos fake german made seen. This is d w news live from berlin trumps racist taunts against for minority lawmakers it will rouse his republican base. I i. His supporters say send her back will trumps riffs on grace helped him win another term in the white house. Also coming up those rally calls are worrying undocumented migrants who have made their holdings in the u. S. They have a special report on one mother forced to make a difficult choice
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