Angela Merkel’s New Year’s speech: ‘Democracy thrives on change’

The German Chancellor and the celebrated Nigerian feminist author discussed politics, and how they are influenced by social media — and fashion.

As chancellor, Angela Merkel has led Germany through many international crises. How successful was she? A DW documentary interviewed former heads of state, historians and journalists.

The DW documentary "Angela Merkel - Navigating a World in Crisis" features leading figures in politics and science recounting personal experiences with the German chancellor. The film airs September 17 on YouTube.

During her first term as German chancellor, Angela Merkel had to deal with the economic and financial crisis of 2008, which helped forge her image as a defender of Germany's interests and her fellow citizens' savings. But there would be more challenges to come: the migrant crisis in 2015, and the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. How will German history remember this scientist by training, who grew up in what was then East Germany, who defied the odds to become Germany's first woman chancellor? As Merkel prepares to bow out after 16 years in power, our Berlin correspondents report on her legacy.

The country's first female chancellor has taken on alpha males in the politics world. But as her nearly 16 years in power ends, Merkel has not been able to enact gender parity or equity in many realms. Why not?

The long-serving chancellor and lawmaker is about to retire. What's next for her?

Both the outgoing chancellor and her would-be successor, Armin Laschet, have congratulated Scholz. The center-left SPD emerged as Germany's largest party in the Bundestag following Sunday's election.

Angela Merkel is headed to Israel for a last official visit. With the shared history of the Holocaust ever present, the German chancellor deepened the firm alliance between the two countries during her time in office.

After 16 years as the Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel is calling it a day. The 67-year-old decision to retire has many reflecting on the legacy of the country’s first female chancellor, who is leaving the office with high approval ratings.⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ Over the years, she has earned swag of nicknames: the world’s most powerful woman, chancellor of the free world, the Queen of Europe, the Merkelator, and the liberal west’s “last defender”. In Germany, she is affectionately known as Mutti - short for mummy.⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣

The two leaders discussed the pandemic, climate change and human rights during a video call. Xi Jinping reportedly called Merkel a "friend of the Chinese people."

Angela Merkel was praised as the "Eiffel Tower" of the European Union at her 107th, and likely final, leaders' summit. Even former US President Barack Obama sent a video message to Brussels for her.

Outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel made a greater commitment to Africa than her predecessors. But her policies haven't necessarily made a difference on the ground.