Angela Merkel: A Woman Worth Watching
This woman has packed in a life of determination, conflict, compassion and breaking through barriers. Let us watch as to what she decides on ‘What’s next?’ At only 64 years of age, there are still so many opportunities!
Change is rippling through the business, tech, entertainment, philanthropical and political spheres alike. The 2018 World’s 100 Most Powerful Women list celebrates the icons, innovators and instigators who are using their voice to change power structures and create a lasting impact.
This year, the 15th annual list welcomes 20 newcomers, but what’s notable is who’s moved out, up and down, making way for emerging leaders who are redefining the chief seat and bringing others along with them. We see more change ahead.
One such woman is Angela Merkel.
www.forbes.com
She cultivated the image of a prudent and pragmatic leader and was once dubbed the Queen of Germany and even the Empress of Europe. Now, Angela Merkel has announced she will not contest the leadership of her own party, and that this term as chancellor - her fourth - will also be her last.
What seemed a given - Mrs Merkel as the leader of Europe's largest economy - is now temporary until her term runs out in 2021.
Her crown first began to slip as the backlash sparked by her open-door refugee policy helped fuel the country's far-right and led to her party's worst electoral performance in almost 70 years in 2017.
With her "grand coalition" government increasingly unstable, her last years of power look set to be fraught with difficulties.
Mrs Merkel has said that she has no plans for future political office - something she has held in one form or another since German reunification, seeing off challenge after challenge until now.
"The time has come to open a new chapter," Mrs Merkel said, announcing her departure at press conference in October 2018.
Merkel became the first female Chancellor of Germany in 2005 and is serving her fourth term.
In November Merkel stepped down as leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and announced she wouldn't seek another term as chancellor in 2021.
Merkel remains the de facto leader of Europe, leading the region's largest economy after steering Germany through financial crisis and back to growth.
Her leadership is marked by her steely reserve, from standing up to Donald Trump to allowing more than a million Syrian refugees into Germany.
For now, she leads a coalition government unpopular with voters, facing continuing storms from Brexit and growing anti-immigrant sentiment in Europe.
The big question that the public is now asking is who and what will come after Merkel's time in office comes to an end.
Change is rippling through the business, tech, entertainment, philanthropical and political spheres alike. The 2018 World’s 100 Most Powerful Women list celebrates the icons, innovators and instigators who are using their voice to change power structures and create a lasting impact.
This year, the 15th annual list welcomes 20 newcomers, but what’s notable is who’s moved out, up and down, making way for emerging leaders who are redefining the chief seat and bringing others along with them. We see more change ahead.