Angela Merkel

Chairwoman of CDU (2000-).

Candidate to become Chancellor of Germany in the 2005 Federal election. She was minister for women and youth (1990-1994) and for the environment and reactor safety (1994-1998) in the cabinet of Helmut Kohl.

Worked and studied at the Central Institute for Physical Chemistry of the Academy of Sciences in the former GDR (1978-1990).

From 22nd November 2005 the first female German Chancellor (Bundeskanzlerin).

Spokesperson in Lothar de Maizire s government; the only democratically elected prime minister of East Germany. She made his cousin Thomas de Maizire a member of her government in November 2005.

Ranked in the "Time 100: The People Who Shape Our World" list by "Time" magazine (8 May 2006).

Topped "The Worlds 100 Most Powerful Women" list by "Forbes" magazine in 2006 (1 September 2006).

In addition to being the first female German Chancellor, she is also the first one to have grown up in East Germany, the first one born after World War II, and the first one with a background in natural sciences. She studied physics, her predecessors law and business.

Is fluent in German, Russian and English.

Studied physics at the University of Leipzig from 1973 to 1978.

Launched a video podcast on her website, making her the first head of state to address her nation via video podcast (8 June 2006).

Appeared on the annual "Time 100" list, "Time" magazines annual ranking of the 100 most influential people in the world, in 2007 for the second time (4 May 2007).

Born to Horst Kasner, a Lutheran pastor, and his wife Herlind Jentzsch, a teacher, she has an older brother, Marcus, and a younger sister, Irene.

Topped "The Worlds 100 Most Powerful Women" list by "Forbes" magazine for the second year in a row (30 August 2007).

Has a look-alike puppet in the French show "Les guignols de linfo" .

One of Time Magazines 100 Most Influential People in the World. [April 2014].

As of 2015 has been selected the most powerful woman on the planet for 10 years running by the magazine Forbes.

Overcoming the Cold War required courage from the people of Central and,Eastern Europe and what was then the German Democratic Republic, but it,also required the steadfastness of Western partner over many decades,when many had long lost hope of integration of the two Germanys and,Europe.

The willingness to learn new skills is very high.

Nobody in Europe will be abandoned. Nobody in Europe will be excluded.

Europe only succeeds if we work together.

I have just explained my idea of how a constructive period of,reflection, one that would send a clear message to the citizens of,Europe: You should now what our priorities are. For Germany this means:,Unemployment is one of one of our biggest problems.

The question is not whether we are able to change but whether we are,changing fats enough.

When it comes to human dignity, we cannot make compromises.

That is why everyone in politics, and we do it, must make sure that they,do not depend on one single interest group. A good compromise is one,where everybody makes a contribution.

This multicultural approach, saying that we simply live side by side and,live happily with each other has failed. Utterly failed.

Spying among friends is never acceptable.

Above all it is important to point out that we can only maintain our,prosperity in Europe if we belong to the most innovative regions in the,world.

The problem is, of course, that these interest groups are all asking for,changes, but their enthusiasm for change rapidly disappears when it,affects the core of their own interests.

It is nonsense to say that Germans are unable to change.

Politicians have to be committed to people in equal measures.

I feel sorry sometimes for these sportsmen and women who put in just as,much effort as the footballers. For example, athletes train at least as,hard as footballers but have to be happy if they can earn enough to,finance a decent education.

We feel bound to the Christian image of humanity - that is what defines,us. Those who do not accept this are in the wrong place here.

Let me say this on a personal note. Without the United States of,America, I would in all probably not be able to stand here before you,today.

If we remind ourselves of the fact that every fifth American today,rightly points and perhaps also with a certain degree of pride to his,German ancestry or her German ancestry, we can safely say that we,indeed, share common roots.

The euro is our common fate, and Europe is our common future.

In the German football team players from different clubs need to get on,with each other both on and off the pitch. In the grand coalition,Christian Democrats and Social Democrats sit in the same boat and need,to pull in the same direction.

It will not be possible to solve the current crisis with euro bonds.

For a few years, more people have been leaving our country than entering,it. Wherever it is possible, we must lower the entry hurdles for those,who bring the country forward.

I felt really sorry for Oliver Kahn. Up to that point he had made lots,of saves for the German team. Of course he could have caught the ball,but it just happened. It was bad luck. In that situation, you need to,be very strong psychologically to carry on.

I am not an expert in this field but I do try to keep up to date with,the Bundesliga. And I do follow World Cups and European Championships,more closely.

Thus, the focus on this main political goal must become more visible in,EU politics and to achieve this, we need a political impulse. It must,be clear what the priorities on the agenda are.

The people in East Germany have lived through so many changes in the,last 15 years like never before in the country, and they did this often,with great enthusiasm. But in the West we also have a high degree of,transformations.

Herr Schroder has conducted two electoral campaigns, and he is doing it,again now, by not telling people what is really necessary. He keeps,avoiding the difficult and uncomfortable issues, those that imply,changes and therefore provoke discussions.

In Europe it is particularly important that we build good relations to,everyone who holds political responsibility because Europe can only be,build together.

I see nothing that points to a recession in Germany. But I see,considerable long-term tasks ahead of us that have to do with markets,regaining confidence in Europe and that have a lot to do with reducing,debt.

It is a fact that, if I single out Germany, our rate of growth is too,low and we have very high unemployment.

From this experience we have learned that in a big party it is important,to have the necessary and often controversial discussions on policy,issues such as the health system while in opposition.

I think that the EU with the Lisbon agenda has put the right emphasis on,growth and employment.

So Europe needs to be competitive and we also need to be competitive if,we wish to remain an interesting economic partner for the United,States. This has to be done on the basis of strength, of,competitiveness.

That makes me think of the 2002 World Cup Final above all else. Nobody,thought at the time that our team would get through to the Final,against Brazil. We should remember that this summer.

Personally, I think that for example the chemical directive in its,present form does too much damage to the chemical industry - especially,the medium sized businesses - and will hurt our worldwide,competitiveness.

I will not let anyone tell me we must spend more money. This crisis did,not come about because we issued too little money but because we,created economic growth with too much money and it was not sustainable,growth.

Each country has to take its own steps to reduce its debt.

On the one hand, the financial projection is on the agenda - we will see,if this problem can be resolved or not. I think it is a right idea to,stage a special summit, which would deal with the question of,priorities of European politics.

It certainly is dangerous that there are only a few clubs left in Europe,that can afford to pay millions. At the end of the day however, the,spectators decide the rates of pay - by watching the games and,consuming the goods and services advertised on sports TV programmes.

If the euro fails, Europe fails.

[observation, May 2017, having met with President Trump] The times in,which we could fully rely on others - they are somewhat over.

Overcoming the Cold War required courage from the people of Central and Eastern Europe and what was then the German Democratic Republic, but it also required the steadfastness of Western partner over many decades when many had long lost hope of integration of the two Germanys and Europe.

It certainly is dangerous that there are only a few clubs left in Europe that can afford to pay millions. At the end of the day however, the spectators decide the rates of pay - by watching the games and consuming the goods and services advertised on sports TV programmes.

So Europe needs to be competitive and we also need to be competitive if we wish to remain an interesting economic partner for the United States. This has to be done on the basis of strength, of competitiveness.

I feel sorry sometimes for these sportsmen and women who put in just as much effort as the footballers. For example, athletes train at least as hard as footballers but have to be happy if they can earn enough to finance a decent education.

Let us answer the terrorists by living our values with courage.

For me, personally, marriage is a man and a woman living together.

That is why everyone in politics, and we do it, must make sure that they do not depend on one single interest group. A good compromise is one where everybody makes a contribution.

There is a lot that binds Germany to Turkey, and even if we have a difference of opinion on an individual matter, the breadth of our links, our friendship, our strategic ties, is great.

The willingness to learn new skills is very high.

Climate change knows no borders. It will not stop before the Pacific islands and the whole of the international community here has to shoulder a responsibility to bring about a sustainable development.

The question is not whether we are able to change but whether we are changing fast enough.

It is nonsense to say that Germans are unable to change.

The euro is our common fate, and Europe is our common future. .