Angela Merkel
Angela Dorothea Kasner, better known as Angela Merkel, was born in Hamburg, West Germany, on July 17, 1954. Trained as a physicist, Merkel entered politics after the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall. Rising to the position of Chairwoman of the Christian Democratic Union party, Merkel became Germany's first female chancellor, and one of the leading figures of the European Union, following the 2005 national elections.
Strength in Weakness:
Angela Merkel is Europe’s most powerful woman but many influential newspapers such as The Guardian and The Independent have termed her “boring”; she takes forever to make decisions, and displays no obvious political vision or even ideology. Even Merkel herself has agreed to this and why? Because of her policy to avoid risk at all costs. In fact, she never mentions plans, visions or ideologies in public. She likes structure and avoids chaos. She knows her policies and grabs the middle ground by stealing her opponents' most popular policies leaving the controversial for them to deal with. Then she runs on popularity, not issues. However, when she admitted to having a weakness, she gained the support of her nation as it made her appear more humane. Admitting a weakness is a sign of strength. Acknowledging weakness doesn’t make a leader less effective and now she has the trust and credibility of others.
Sensing the situation:
Merkel has played a catalytic role at the European and global levels in financial re-regulation and climate change.
Following the economic crisis, Chancellor Merkel proposed sweeping regulatory changes, including a redesign of the international architecture of financial institutions. Merkel’s government expanded Kurzarbeit, or ‘short-time work’, in which, instead of laying off millions, Germany spread the pain around by having employees work shorter weeks. Most of the workers’ lost wages have been made up from a special fund squirreled away during more prosperous times. The impact has been near miraculous.
Strength in Weakness:
Angela Merkel is Europe’s most powerful woman but many influential newspapers such as The Guardian and The Independent have termed her “boring”; she takes forever to make decisions, and displays no obvious political vision or even ideology. Even Merkel herself has agreed to this and why? Because of her policy to avoid risk at all costs. In fact, she never mentions plans, visions or ideologies in public. She likes structure and avoids chaos. She knows her policies and grabs the middle ground by stealing her opponents' most popular policies leaving the controversial for them to deal with. Then she runs on popularity, not issues. However, when she admitted to having a weakness, she gained the support of her nation as it made her appear more humane. Admitting a weakness is a sign of strength. Acknowledging weakness doesn’t make a leader less effective and now she has the trust and credibility of others.
Sensing the situation:
Merkel has played a catalytic role at the European and global levels in financial re-regulation and climate change.
Following the economic crisis, Chancellor Merkel proposed sweeping regulatory changes, including a redesign of the international architecture of financial institutions. Merkel’s government expanded Kurzarbeit, or ‘short-time work’, in which, instead of laying off millions, Germany spread the pain around by having employees work shorter weeks. Most of the workers’ lost wages have been made up from a special fund squirreled away during more prosperous times. The impact has been near miraculous.