Angela Merkel unveils political life in candid memoirs
The diaries of Angela Merkel will soon be available in German bookshops. The former Chancellor of Germany has recounted her political life. Prior to the release on 26 November, excerpts from her memoirs, offering insights on contemporary leaders, were published by the German weekly "Die Zeit".
21 November 2024 13:53
Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany from 2005 to 2021, shares reflections on her life in her diaries, published three years after her retirement. She writes about her carefree childhood in Waldorf, where she was surrounded by nature, and her positive relationships with the religious community and neighbours from whom she learned a great deal.
However, the most intriguing excerpts are those in which she shares her reflections on leaders who continue to influence the world. She met most of them face to face.
Angela Merkel's memories: a jab at Donald Trump
Merkel's diaries, "Freedom: Memoirs 1954-2021," will be released on 26 November in 30 countries. A week later, the book will reach readers in the USA.
The book went to print before the elections. The former Chancellor does not conceal her hope for Kamala Harris's victory.
She also evaluates Donald Trump, who began his first term during her tenure. She criticises his materialism. "He saw everything from the perspective of the property developer he was before entering politics. Each parcel of land could only be sold once, and if he didn't get it someone else did. That's how he saw the world," the former Chancellor of Germany wrote.
She also mentions Pope Francis's advice when asked how to deal with "fundamentally different views." The Pope immediately understood it was about Trump and his distinctive perception of climate. "Bend, bend, bend, but make sure it doesn't break," Francis advised.
Angela Merkel does not shy away from commenting on Vladimir Putin, either. During her tenure, relations with the later aggressor were proper. Today, Merkel is criticised for the European economy's excessive dependence on cheap gas from Russia.
"I experienced him as someone who didn't want to be disrespected, ready to lash out at all times," Merkel wrote. She explained that the Russian dictator must have been panic-stricken and would not be respected and impose a dominant position through his demeanour.
The diaries of Angela Merkel, the first woman to hold the office of chancellor, written together with political advisor Beate Baumann, provide an intriguing study of world politics and an interesting chronicle of life in two German states. The future chancellor lived 35 years in East Germany and 35 years in unified Germany. Her political career began with the fall of the Berlin Wall.
