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Merkels ökonomisches Erbe infographic
Grafik zeigt die Änderungen in Deutschlands Wirtschaft unter Merkels Kanzlerschaft.
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POLITIK

Angela Merkels ökonomisches Erbe

By Duncan Mil

December 2, 2021 - Angela Merkel verabschiedet sich als deutsche Bundeskanzlerin, sie hat die viertgrößte Volkswirtschaft der Welt 16 Jahre lang geführt.
Am Donnerstag (2. Dezember) wird die Bundeswehr Kanzlerin Merkel mit dem Großen Zapfenstreich – eine Zeremonie zur Pensionierung - im Verteidigungsministerium verabschieden.

The 67-year-old’s popularity has soared during the pandemic, making her the nations’ best-liked politician.

Merkel’s era saw Germany roar from “sick man of Europe” to the world’s fourth-largest economy, behind only Japan, China and the U.S.

Crises started piling up during her first term. The 2008 global financial crisis -- triggered by a U.S. housing market meltdown -- hit European economies. Germany saw exports fall by a fifth.

In her second term, she worked with Russian President Vladimir Putin despite his annexation of Crimea. She defended Nord Stream 2 -- a second pipeline carrying gas directly from Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea.

During her third term, she decided not to close Germany’s borders against almost 1.5 million refugees in 2015 taking the pressure off neighbouring nations.

In November 2016, Europe was shocked by Donald Trump winning the White House. Days later, outgoing President Barack Obama visited Berlin and tried to convince Merkel to run again as Chancellor to counter Trump and hold together the West. Merkel started her fourth term in 2017.

Merkel outlasted Trump, like so many others -- nine Italian and Japanese prime ministers, five British prime ministers, four U.S. and French presidents and two Chinese leaders. However, Xi Jinping is president for life.

Sources
PUBLISHED: 29/11/2021; STORY: Graphic News; PICTURES: Getty Images
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