When she was invested as Chancellor on November 22, 2005, Angela Merkel was not yet "the most powerful woman in the world" (a distinction awarded to her by
Forbes
on multiple occasions), but she quickly established her mark in Germany and in Europe.
The one that her supporters nicknamed "Angie" becomes "Mutti", a maternal and reassuring figure.
As the new heads of state and government march through Europe over the years, Angela Merkel resists the erosion of power.
And imposes its style.
In the aftermath of Angela Merkel's accession to power, the Berlin restaurant Kanzlereck (“Chancellor's Corner”) continues its tradition.
Its director, Angelika Meixner, hangs on the wall a portrait of the new chancellor following those of her predecessors: Konrad Adenauer (1949-1963), Ludwig Erhardt (1963-1966), Kurt Georg Kiesinger (1966-1969), Willy Brandt (1969-1974), Helmut Schmidt (1974-1982), Helmut Kohl (1982-1998) and Gerhard Schröder (1998-2005).
Arnd Wiegmann / Reuters
The new Chancellor reserves her first official visit to France on November 23, 2005. She is received at the Élysée by Jacques Chirac.
Sébastien Soriano / Le Figaro
On August 31, 2006, the Chancellor visited a German Navy submarine in the port of Warnemünde, near Rostock.
(GERMANY) REUTERS / Christian Charisius
November 9, 2007, with US President George W. Bush welcoming him to his ranch in Crawford, Texas.
REUTERS / Jim Young
On May 5, 2009, Angela Merkel, who grew up and lived in East Germany before reunification, gets up after laying a wreath in front of the former Stasi prison, the political police of the GDR, in Berlin.
REUTERS / Fabrizio Bensch
The Chancellor has a frequent habit of joining hands in a position that has since taken her name, the “Merkel-raute” (Merkel diamond).
Tobias SCHWARZ / AFP
On July 14, 2014, Angela Merkel witnessed the victory of the German national team in the final of the FIFA World Cup, in Rio de Janeiro, against Argentina.
At his side, the German President, Joachim Gauck.
Abaca
With Barack Obama during the G7 summit organized by Germany, near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, on June 8, 2015. REUTERS / Michael Kappeler / Pool
Angela Merkel leans on François Hollande's shoulder, before the Republican march in tribute to the victims of the January 2015 terrorist attacks. Vincent Boisot / Le Figaro
"Wir schaffen das."
("We will get there.") When she said these words on August 31, 2015, the Chancellor announced that Germany would adopt a policy of welcoming refugees flocking to Europe, rather than partially or completely closing them off to them. borders.
This speech, particularly important in the European management of the migration crisis, marks the beginning of strong political turmoil for Angela Merkel.
Sascha Steinach via www.imago-images.de
A young migrant holds up a portrait of Angela Merkel as she arrives at Budapest train station, before setting out on foot for the Austrian border.
AFP PHOTO / PETER KOHALMI
March 16, 2016, during a vote in the Bundestag.
Michael Kappeler / dpa / AFP
On March 8, 2017, Angela Merkel was called to testify before the parliamentary committee of inquiry into the “Dieselgate”.
She assures that she was not aware of Volkswagen's program to deceive the anti-pollution measures.
REUTERS / Fabrizio Bensch
On September 22, 2017, the Chancellor participated in the final meeting of the electoral campaign, which should lead her to a 4th term.
After a difficult electoral victory, she announced thirteen months later at a press conference that she would not seek her succession at the head of the CDU and would leave the chancellery at the end of her fourth and last term, in 2021. . REUTERS / Michaela Rehle
As she enters her 16th and final year in power, Angela Merkel has regained very high levels of popularity.
(Here in August 2019, during the German government's “open house” day. Tobias SCHWARZ / AFP
On August 19, 2021, the German Chancellor visits the production facility for Covid-19 vaccines at the German BioNTech laboratory in the company of the CEO and co-founder of the company, Ugur Sahin.
The biotechnology company has developed, in partnership with the American Pfizer, the very first vaccine in the world against the disease.
In one year, this start-up, almost unknown before the pandemic, has become a major player in the sector.
Arne Dedert / Pool via Reuters