Angela Merkel (Politician) Age, Husband, Family, Biography & More

Angela Merkel is a German politician who served in charge of the government of Germany from 2005 to 2021. She is among the longest-serving politicians in recent European history. Her reputation is known for her prudent and logical policy of governance which has helped Germany to overcome a variety of economic and political challenges over the course of time. Merkel was born in Hamburg in 1954. She was raised in East Germany under the communist regime.

Early Life and Education

Angela Merkel was born on 17 July 1954 in Hamburg, Germany. Her dad, Horst Kasner, was a Lutheran pastor, and Herlind Kasner, her mother was an English teacher as well as a Latin teacher. Merkel was born in East Germany and received her education at Karl Marx University in Leipzig. She graduated with a master’s degree in Physics in the year 1978. She completed an advanced doctorate in quantum chemistry in 1986.

Political Career

Angela Merkel began her political career after the fall the Berlin Wall in 1989. She began to get involved in politics as an active part of the East German Democratic Awakening party and then became a member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). The year 1991 saw her made Minister of Women as well as Youth under the government of federal Chancellor Helmut Kohl. Merkel moved up in the ranks within the CDU and, in 2000 became the first female CDU leader.

The year 2005 was the first time Angela Merkel was elected as the Chancellor of Germany and became the very first female to be elected to office. She was elected for a second time in 2009, and then the next time in 2013. During her term in office, Merkel played a significant part in shaping European policies, specifically in relation in relation to her role in the European Union and the refugee crisis.

Personal Life

Angela Merkel has been married twice. She was first married to the physicist Ulrich Merkel, whom she was married to in 1977 before divorcing in 1982. Then, in 1998 she got married to quantum scientist and professor Joachim Sauer, whom she first met in 1981. Sauer has been largely away from the spotlight and is regarded as an individual who is private. The couple does not have children together.

Awards and Recognition

Angela Merkel has received numerous awards and distinctions over the course of her life. In 2007 she was named the Time magazine’s person of the year. The year after, Merkel was honored for her contribution to the refugee crisis, and she was chosen as Time’s Person of Year for the third time. Merkel has also been awarded an award called the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor given in the United States.

Legacy

Angela Merkel’s legacy as the Chancellor of Germany is noteworthy. It is widely believed that she was a powerful and efficient leader, who played an important part in shaping European political discourse during her tenure as Chancellor. Merkel’s policies in the refugee crisis as well as climate change are particularly significant and she has received recognition for her dedication to human rights and democracy.

Conclusion

Angela Merkel is a notable name in contemporary European political life. Her professional and personal lives are influenced by her upbringing in East Germany and her education in the area of Physics. As a politician Merkel played an important part in shaping European political life, especially with regard towards the European Union as well as in the context of refugees. Her legacy as the Chancellor of Germany is important, and she will always be acknowledged for her achievements on the global on international stage.

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