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Angela Merkel in a blue suit
Image: picture alliance/dpa

Angela Merkel

Angela Merkel was Germany's first female chancellor, in office from 2005 to 2021, and leader of the center-right Christian Democratic Union from 2000 to 2018.

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All Content on this topic

People wear protective face masks on the streets of Leipzig

Coronavirus: Infections soar in US, Europe

The US and Germany have hit daily records for new infections. Follow DW for the latest.
HealthOctober 31, 2020
A sign in German telling people to cover their nose and mouth with a mask

Coronavirus digest: Germany cases reach record high

Germany recorded over 18,000 daily infections while France enters a second strict lockdown. Follow DW for the latest.
HealthOctober 30, 2020
An intensive care station in Germany

German hostility to coronavirus shutdown grows

Chancellor Angela Merkel and Germany's 16 state premiers spent four hours deliberating before announcing new measures.
HealthOctober 29, 2020
German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks to the Bundestag in Berlin

Merkel defends 'necessary' new lockdown

Merkel faced pushback from some German lawmakers who are angry about being shut out of COVID-19 crisis talks.
PoliticsOctober 29, 2020
Pierre Larrouturou

EU Parliament member starts hunger strike

The MEP is demanding the EU levy a "real" financial transaction tax, which could fund health and social programs.
PoliticsOctober 29, 2020
Thurau Jens Kommentarbild App

Opinion: A dark and quiet November looms over Germany

Jens Thurau
The government had no choice but to lock down in the face of skyrocketing case numbers, says DW's Jens Thurau.
SocietyOctober 28, 2020
German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks during a news conference at the Chancellery in Berlin

Germany to impose one-month partial lockdown

Germany will put in place tough new measures from Monday November 2. But will the German people be compliant?
SocietyOctober 28, 2020
Two young Germans wearing mask

Coronavirus: Will Germany go into lockdown again?

With the rapidly rising number of coronavirus cases, the government seems set for a policy U-turn.
HealthOctober 28, 2020
Angela Merkel puts on a face mask

Germany mulls tougher coronavirus restrictions

Chancellor Angela Merkel said a lack of discipline on COVID-19 had put the country back in a "difficult" situation.
HealthOctober 27, 2020
Deutschland CDU-Parteitag in Hamburg Merkel

Merkel's CDU postpones key conference amid COVID-19

The CDU/CSU party conference seeking a successor to Angela Merkel may only take place virtually when it does go ahead.
PoliticsOctober 26, 2020
Rosalia Romaniec | DW Mitarbeiterin | Leiterin Current Politics

German leaders set dangerously bad example

Rosalia Romaniec
Officials tell Germans to be safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. But they often don't practice what they preach.
HealthOctober 25, 2020
Merkel wearing a mask as she sits down for a Cabinet meeting

Coronavirus: Merkel reissues plea to stay at home

Amid record high infections, Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned Germans to reduce all unnecessary contact and travel.
HealthOctober 24, 2020
Navalny being transported to the Charité clinic in Berlin

Putin says he let Navalny get treated in Berlin

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he personally intervened to have rival Alexei Navalny flown out of the country.
PoliticsOctober 23, 2020
Jens Spahn

German health minister tests positive for COVID-19

German Health Minister Jens Spahn has tested positive for the coronavirus and has "cold symptoms," his ministry said.
HealthOctober 21, 2020
Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in a press conference

Angela Merkel hosts Iraqi PM in Berlin

The chancellor has said Germany would continue to support the anti-IS coalition and a NATO police training mission.
PoliticsOctober 20, 2020
Thurau Jens Kommentarbild App

Germany faces a hard winter

Jens Thurau
Many believed the pandemic was largely under control in Germany. The current spike in infections has proved them wrong.
HealthOctober 19, 2020
German Chancellor Angela Merkel wearing a white face mask

Coronavirus hitting migrants hard, Merkel warns

We must not neglect the fate of migrants during this pandemic, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned.
SocietyOctober 19, 2020
Steffen Seibert, Sprecher der Bundesregierung

Steffen Seibert discusses press freedom and democracy

German government spokesperson Steffen Seibert talks about his job, the role of the free press and the COVID pandemic.
MediaOctober 19, 2020
A woman wearing a face mask attends a plenary session of the European Parliament

Coronavirus: Over 200,000 virus deaths in Europe

Nearly 4.8 million people in Europe have been infected with COVID-19. Read the latest here.
HealthOctober 18, 2020
German Chancellor Angela Merkel (C) flanked by her team is walking away after a press briefing at the end of the second day of an EU Summit

Merkel urges Germans to stay at home

Angela Merkel has called for solidarity as Germany enters a "very serious phase" of the pandemic.
HealthOctober 17, 2020
Merkel addresses a press conference in Brussels

Brexit: Merkel urges both sides to keep negotiating

As the UK readies for a no-deal Brexit, Merkel said both sides should be willing to compromise to reach an agreement.
PoliticsOctober 16, 2020
People in Cologne wearing masks

Coronavirus: Germany hits record daily increase in cases

Top officials urged citizens to follow rules as new COVID-19 infections crossed 6,000.
HealthOctober 15, 2020
Angela Merkel

Coronavirus: Germany toughens restrictions amid surge

The German government announced the new measures as the country posted a record number of new COVID-19 cases.
HealthOctober 14, 2020
Thurau Jens Kommentarbild App

The coronavirus is still there — and we all need to fight it

Jens Thurau
If coronavirus regulations are not clear, people's trust in political decision-making will be lost, says Jens Thurau.
PoliticsOctober 14, 2020
Angela Merkel

Germany vows to stand by Ireland in Brexit talks

Paris warned that "no deal" was a very real and likely option as time for breakthrough is running out.
PoliticsOctober 13, 2020
Angela Merkel

Angela Merkel: Europe must learn coronavirus lessons

The German chancellor's warning comes as Europe reports its highest number of infections since the outbreak began.
PoliticsOctober 13, 2020
Two officers from the Munich Police patrol Marienplatz for assorted criminality as well as unsafe behavior that can transmit Coronavirus

Coronavirus: Germany mulls curbs on traveling, partying

Chancellor Merkel's aide has called for restrictions on social gatherings and travel amid a surge in daily infections.
HealthOctober 12, 2020
Flags of the UK and the EU

Brexit: Britain tells Germany to bridge gaps in EU talks

Johnson told Chancellor Merkel that his country would be willing to walk away if there was no Brexit deal in place.
PoliticsOctober 12, 2020
DW Euromaxx | Uckermark Merkel

Angela Merkel's home turf: the Uckermark

Few people and lots of countryside – that's the Uckermark region
CultureOctober 10, 202003:09 min
German Chancellor Angela Merkel meets with Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in Berlin

Angela Merkel meets Belarus opposition leader in Berlin

The pair discussed the current plight of the Belarusian people following August's disputed election result.
PoliticsOctober 6, 2020
Angela Merkel and Svetlana Tikhanovskaya

Tsikhanouskaya calls for German mediation in Belarus

Ahead of her meeting with Merkel, the exiled leader told DW that "Germany can be very helpful" in resolving the crisis.
PoliticsOctober 5, 2020
Michel Barnier meets with Heiko Maas

Germany says no-deal Brexit 'irresponsible'

The EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier was in Berlin to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
PoliticsOctober 5, 2020
A large heart in the black, red and gold of the German flag says 30 years in Potsdam, outside Berlin

Germany celebrates 30 years of reunification

Today's Germany is "the best Germany that has ever existed," the president said marking 30 years of reunification.
SocietyOctober 3, 2020
Sign advising people to cover their mouths and noses with a mask, in German and English

Coronavirus: Broad support for German measures

A new poll has explored issues of German identity 30 years after reunification, along with views on coronavirus rules.
SocietyOctober 2, 2020
Chinese high-speed trains in Wuhan

Merkel wants China to be fair on investments

EU leaders urged Brussels to look into reducing dependence on the US and China at the EU summit.
TradeOctober 2, 2020
Angela Merkel and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

Merkel to meet Belarus opposition head on Tuesday

The Belarus opposition leader has already met the French president and is now heading for talks in Berlin.
PoliticsOctober 2, 2020
Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, addresses the General Assembly high-level meeting on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women.

Merkel: 'Long way to go' for women's rights

The United Nations held a virtual general assembly to commemorate the 1995 women's conference in Beijing.
SocietyOctober 2, 2020
Coronaivurs rapid test

Germany commits $100 million to vaccine drive

The United Nations needs another $35 billion to fully fund its global vaccine access program.
HealthSeptember 30, 2020
Angela Merkel and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya combo photo

Merkel to meet Belarus opposition leader

The German chancellor made the announcement in a speech to the Bundestag.
PoliticsSeptember 30, 2020
Angela Merkel

Tough months ahead for Germany, says Merkel

German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke to the Bundestag in a heated debate over her budget policies for the pandemic.
PoliticsSeptember 30, 2020
Deutschland Angela Merkel bei Beratungen der Ministerpräsidenten über die Corona-Pandemie

Germany adopts 'hotspot strategy' for COVID-19 spikes

PoliticsSeptember 29, 202000:52 min
Merkerl and state premiers go to a press conference to unveil coronavirus restrictions

Germany: Merkel unveils new coronavirus measures

Merkel met with the heads of Germany’s federal states to chart a path forward to curb rising infections nationwide.
HealthSeptember 29, 2020
German Foreign Minister Heiko Mass at the UN Security council in February 2020

Germany's UN reform bid revives an old ambition 

Germany's push for an extended Security Council at the UN betrays the country's strengths and weaknesses globally. 
PoliticsSeptember 29, 2020
People dancing at a party

German govt. mulls COVID-19 party limits

The German government wants to curb private parties and ban alcohol sales as new coronavirus cases continue to rise.
HealthSeptember 29, 2020
a headshot of Merkel wearing a cream jacket and blue beads around her neck

Coronavirus: Merkel warns Germany faces case surge

Chancellor Merkel has reportedly warned top party officials that the number of daily cases in Germany could top 19,000.
HealthSeptember 28, 2020
Alexei Navalny

Germany's Merkel visited Navalny in hospital

Merkel's spokesman Seibert said the chancellor privately met Navalny while he was undergoing treatment for poisoning.
PoliticsSeptember 28, 2020
Klima-Proteste | Schweden Greta Thunberg

Climate strikers are back on the streets

School strikers across the world are demanding urgent action on climate change.
Nature and EnvironmentSeptember 25, 2020
DW Merkel’s last dance Teaser | Podcast

Merkel's Europe - all power, no vision? (E01)

Has Angela Merkel held the EU together or has she pushed it towards the breaking point?
PoliticsSeptember 24, 202040:49 min
Festakt 70 Jahre Zentralrat der Juden in Deutschland Angela Merkel

Angela Merkel: 'Many Jews do not feel safe in our country'

Speaking before the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Merkel said that anti-Semitism in Germany "never disappeared."
SocietySeptember 15, 2020
EU-China virtual summit projected on TV screens

EU pushes China on trade, human rights

EU officials have called on Beijing to respect human rights and open its markets, saying its the basis for relations.
PoliticsSeptember 14, 2020