Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel's memoirs offer a detailed account of her years in power and the significant events she witnessed. In this article, we delve into her experiences with various world leaders and the challenges she faced.
Unveiling Merkel's Memoirs - A Journey Through Politics
Putin's Power Games
Merkel vividly recalls being kept waiting by Putin at the 2007 G8 summit, a situation that irked her as she detests unpunctuality. During a visit to Sochi that year, Putin's labrador's appearance during a photo opportunity added an interesting twist. Despite knowing Merkel's fear of dogs, Putin seemed to enjoy the moment, and she chose to keep silent, adhering to her motto of "never explain, never complain."In 2006, Putin pointed to wooden houses in Siberia and expressed concerns about poor people being easily influenced. He also mentioned similar groups in the US government's efforts in Ukraine's "Orange Revolution." Merkel writes that Putin's "self-righteousness" was evident in a 2007 Munich speech where he turned away from closer ties with the US. However, she emphasizes that Russia remained an important player on the global stage.Obama and Trump
After meeting then-Sen. Obama in 2008, Merkel believed they could work well together. Years later, during Obama's last visit as president in 2016, he asked questions but held back on an opinion, which she found helpful. There was a stark contrast with Trump, who had criticized Merkel and Germany during his 2016 campaign. When Merkel first visited the Trump White House in March 2017, there was an awkward moment as photographers shouted for a handshake. Merkel quietly asked Trump if he wanted one, but received no response. Merkel faults her own reaction, realizing that Putin seemed to fascinate Trump and that politicians with autocratic traits had an influence on him.Could Brexit Have Been Avoided?
Merkel tried to assist Prime Minister David Cameron in the EU as he faced pressure from British Euroskeptics, but there were limitations to what she could do. Cameron's efforts to appease EU opponents led to the Brexit vote in 2016, an outcome Merkel calls a "humiliation" for other EU members. She questions whether she should have made more concessions to the UK and concludes that, given the political situation at the time, there was no acceptable way to prevent Britain's exit from the EU.Giving Up Power
Merkel was the first German chancellor to leave power on her own terms. In 2018, she announced she wouldn't seek a fifth term and attributes some physical incidents in 2019, such as body shaking during public engagements, to the accumulated tension over the years. She had herself thoroughly checked and an osteopath explained that her body was releasing the built-up stress."Freedom," Merkel's memoir, runs to over 700 pages in its original German edition and is now being released in English by St. Martin's Press. It provides a comprehensive look at her life and political career.New
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