Angela Merkel

Angela Dorothea Merkel is a retired German politician who served as Chancellor of Germany from 2005 to 2021 and was the first woman to hold that office. She previously served as leader of the Opposition from 2002 to 2005 and as the leader of the Christian Democratic Union from 2000 to 2018. During her chancellorship, Merkel was frequently referred to the most powerful woman in the world. Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, her legacy came under increased scrutiny both in Germany and abroad.