The End of an Era: Angela Merkel - Legacy and Successor Part I

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By Ruth Kae

Since 2005 Angela Merkel has been one of the most powerful women in the world. But in 2018 she announced that in 2021 she will not run for reelection to be Germany’s chancellor for another four years. This mini-series is a recap of all her accomplishments, struggles and how she shaped the last 15 years not only in Germany and Europe but in the whole world. The first part will focus on her policy actions in Germany and her role in her party.

After she graduated from Central Institute for Physical Chemistry at the Academy of Sciences in Berlin and was awarded a doctorate (Dr. rer. nat.) in 1986, her political career started with the movement called “Democratic Awakening” in 1989. Since then she held different political offices such as Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (1994-1998)  and Chairwoman of the CDU Germany (2000-2018).

Angela Merkel at different points in her life. (Herlinde Koelbl | Agentur Focus | Contact Press Images)

In 2005 she was the first woman to be elected Germany’s chancellor. For many young girls and women in Germany, Merkel's victory was a symbol of hope and inspiration in the male-dominated world of leaders and bosses. With her as a role model, a girl could imagine being the chancellor of Germany. But what would surprise many, is that Merkel never identified herself as a feminist. Although it was always important for her to be treated the same as her male colleagues and not be reduced to her gender, hairstyle or choice of clothing. Only recently Merkel and Family Minister Franziska Giffey introduced "Strong for the Future”, the first plan to reduce gender inequality in Germany.

In 2008 Merkel faced the financial crisis, where her actions were decisive for her re-election the following year. While on the one hand Germany’s “slow and tepid response” was criticized by other countries, the majority of German citizens supported Merkel’s “steady-handed, no-panic course”. Germany played an important part in the reform programme for Greece and Portugal in 2008. Merkel is still aware today that many people considered her decisions at that time to be wrong. Nevertheless, she is convinced that this strict approach was the right step, which is also confirmed by the nearly finished financial recovery in Greece and Portugal and her re-election(s).

A second challenge for Angela Merkel and Germany was not far away when, in 2015, many refugees reached the coasts and borders of Europe and the heads of state were forced to act quickly. By welcoming people who had to leave their country and building refugee centers, Angela Merkel received not only approval but also criticism. In 2015 the German far-right party AfD, Alternative for Germany, ignited fear among the people and secured up to 16 percent of the votes nationwide. But as she has already shown during the financial crisis, Merkel is not going to let herself be thrown off balance that easily. With confidence in her voice, she addressed the nation and all the people who fled to Germany: We can do it! This sentence became the guiding principle for the next few years. While in 2015 the number of newly registered refugees in Germany was 1.091.894 it already went down to 54.750 in 2018. But the tension and the political power struggle were not over yet. Merkel had to show strength, set out a plan for a stable future and convince the population, especially in eastern Germany, that she takes their problems just as seriously as those of the refugees.

Refugees welcome the Chancellor on her arrival at the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees. (Bundesregierung | Kugler)

As in many countries, the right-wing party, AfD, gained popularity in Germany, and the former people's parties (SPD, CDU/CSU, FDP and the Green Party) had difficulty finding a majority for a coalition capable of governing. After 18 years as chairwoman of the CDU, Christian Democratic Party, Angela Merkel announces not to run for office anymore and hands it over to Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer - alias AKK - in 2018. Slowly, even the last Angela Merkel admirer realizes that this is the beginning of the end of an era.

With all the challenges she had to overcome and the decisions she has made, Angela Merkel has left such an impressive mark on Germany's history that it will be difficult for any of her successors to surpass her accomplishments. 

Part II: Germany’s foreign policy under Angela Merkel (here)

Ruth is a political writer for La Tonique.