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There are few countries in the world that have influenced the historical development of mankind in the last century like the Germans – the two world wars continue to cast a powerful influence on the shape of the world. Yet this same country has produced one of the most dynamic and stable leadership in recent times. The rise of Angela Merkel depicts a radical shift in the leadership status of Germany.
She is the youngest German Chancellor ever at age 51, she is the first German Chancellor to come from East German and she is the first ever female German chancellor. For a daughter of pastor and a humble graduate of physics from Karl Max university now the university of Leipzig it is indeed a great feat.
It was while studying in the university that she met her first husband also a physics student Ulrich Merkel, the two got married in 1977. They got divorced in 1982 but she kept his last name. according Time magazine After her divorce she lived squatting in an illegal apartment near a train station. On her 30th birthday, her father came to visit, telling her “you haven’t gotten very far”. She was awarded a doctorate for her thesis on quantum chemistry in 1986.
In 1989 she joined newly founded democratic awakening and became the party press spokesman in 1990, same month there was a coalition between her party and German Social Union (DSU) and the Christian Democratic Union(CDU). The Coalition was victorious and Democratic Awakening became part of the Government. Merkel became the deputy spokesperson of the government of Lothar de Maiziere(CDU), she formally joined the CDU in August 1990, the party merged with the CDU in Western Germany on October 1 the day before the reunification of German. In the first Post reunification election in December 1990 Merkel won a seat in the Bundestag (lower hosue of parliament) and she was appointed minister for women and youth by Chancellor Helmut Kohl in January 1991. Thus, she began her career in national politics and governance. She married her longtime companion a professor of chemistry Joachim Sauer on December 30 of 1998.
An election was held in September 2005 and a stalemate eschew; the CDU – CSU won 35.2% leading the SPD by 1% eventually a grand coalition was formed between CDU -CSU and SPD. Merkel emerged as the head of the government. She was reelected in 2009, 2013 and 2018 and most of victories were achieved through coalitions and compromise.
Her most effective leadership attribute is her pragmatism she is always willing to yield to facts and whatever is sensible and popular . Her moderate views on governorship and leadership also earned her space in the leadership history of Germany, Europe and the world at large. Although critics argued she lacks a clear stance and ideology but Under her leadership Germany became the strongest economy in Europe and of course she still remains the most populous country in EU. She is considered the most powerful woman in the world. Her understanding of German history was a virtue that assisted her leadership, she loves to lead from behind and she takes bold stands, she was named the Times Magazine person of the year 2020. She is also considered the most successful elected female politician in Europe.
The fact that she was a scientist and a teacher played out more in her leadership, her rational views and ability to build alliance is unprecedented. She was a very good cook according to Time Magazine she once told Nigerian president Good luck Jonathan that she makes breakfast for her husband every morning, she was often spotted shopping for groceries at regular supermarkets where she pays in cash. Merkel loved football passionately, she often visits the German soccer teams locker rooms to congratulate them after a win(Times Magazine).
She is a good lesson in democratic leadership for Africa and beyond, African leaders must learn to work through alliance and democratic unity to offer leadership to her people.
Merkel announced her intention to step down as the leader of CDU after her tenure in 2021. Germany , Europe and the world will Miss her.
Hon. Adeyemi Abidemi Adebola
Minority Whip KGHA 2011-2015
Dir. Research and Development (ADSC)