In a detailed farewell talk with the Süddeutsche Zeitung, Angela Merkel took stock of her chancellorship and admitted mistakes.
How exactly it will go in the future, she does not yet know.
Berlin - The outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel gave the
Süddeutsche Zeitung
her first interview since the federal election in September.
She took stock of her 16 years as Federal Chancellor, admitted mistakes and spoke of her "weakest moment in fighting the pandemic".
Angela Merkel on the past and the future
Angela Merkel gives up power voluntarily.
As early as 2018, she resigned from the CDU party chairmanship and announced that she would no longer be a candidate for the next federal election.
The time will soon come: after 16 years as Federal Chancellor, the end of her political career is about to end.
The Chancellor takes this calmly and looks back positively on her term of office: "I know what we have achieved in the governments that I have led," she told the
Süddeutsche Zeitung
.
Everything that I have done, I have done with a view to what was necessary, for the present and of course because such decisions should last for the future. "
Even a future SPD-led government does not worry her.
There will be political differences, but she “can sleep peacefully”. Climate protection will remain an important issue for the future.
She does not yet know what she will do after her last day of work.
But her husband Joachim Sauer is not worried that she will soon just be sitting around at home: "Firstly, he has enough to do himself, and secondly, I've never distinguished myself by just sitting around at home."
Angela Merkel: That was the weakest moment in fighting the pandemic
However, the Chancellor also expressed regret. She did not want the corona crisis and the difficult decisions associated with it. “That I am the Chancellor who is responsible for ensuring that, for the first time in the post-war period, children cannot go to school for a long time. Even after the previous critical developments that I had to accompany, it was beyond my imagination that such restrictions had to be introduced. Nevertheless, it had to be mastered, ”said Merkel.
The politician also admits mistakes.
For example, she spoke of her “weakest moment in fighting the pandemic”: “I am still sad about one phase: It was Christmas last year.
At that time the tests were in place.
And yet too little was tested in the old people's and nursing homes.
I personally tried to force this around Christmas in telephone conversations with those responsible in the area. ”Free tests were provided and personnel costs were taken over.
Nevertheless, it took too long for the measures to be implemented in nursing homes.
Angela Merkel has received good references from many other politicians.
Former US President Barack Obama said he had always shown an "relentless" moral compass.
EU politicians also praised Merkel for being a “compromise machine”.