Angela Merkel

BiographyAngela Dorothea Merkel is a German politician and

a former research scientist who has been the leader of the Christian Democratic Union since 2000 and the Chancellor of Germany since 2005.

Was born in Hamburg , West Germany, on 17 July 1954. The daughter of Horst Kasner and his wife Herlind. Was educated in Templin and at the University of Leipzig , where she studied physics from 1973 to 1978. worked and studied at the Central Institute for Physical Chemistry of the Academy of Sciences in Berlin-Adlershof from 1978 to 1990. After being awarded a doctorate for her thesis on  quantum chemistry, she worked as a researcher and published several papers.

Political careerMerkel entered politics in the wake of

the Revolution of 1989. briefly serving as the deputy spokesperson for the first democratically elected East German Government in 1990. Following the German reunification in 1990, she was elected to the Bundestag.

In 1991 under Chancellor Helmut Kohl she was appointed as the Federal Minister for Women and Youth.

In 1994 - The Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety.

Following the 2005 federal election, she was appointed Germany's first female Chancellor at the head of a grand coalition.

Chancellor of GermanyOn 22 November 2005, Merkel

assumed the office of Chancellor of Germany following a stalemate election that resulted in a grand coalition with the SPD. Her party was re-elected in 2009 with an increased number of seats, and could form a governing coalition with the FDP. In the election of September 2013 the CDU/CSU parties emerged as winners, but formed another grand coalition with the SPD due to the FDP's failure to obtain the minimum of 5% of votes required to enter parliament.

The political viewsForeign policy.

In foreign policy, Angela Merkel is known for its unconditional support of US policy, advocating a rapprochement with the United States. She has repeatedly criticized Gerhard Schroeder for "excessive" friendship with Vladimir Putin and declared that take a harder line against Russia in the case of her election as Chancellor. However, after the government headed by Merkel of Germany, the Russian-German relations have not undergone any major changes.

The principal issues in foreign policy for her is the settlement of armed conflicts.

Personal lifeIn 1977, Angela Kasner

married physics student Ulrich Merkel and took his surname. The marriage ended in divorce in 1982. Merkel later says about his marital experience: "We got married because everyone got married. Today it sounds silly, but I came to marriage without the necessary seriousness. I cheated. "

Her second and current husband is quantum chemist and professor Joachim Sauer, who has largely remained out of the media spotlight. Unfortunately, She has no children.

Honours and awards(some of them) The Presidential Medal of Freedom (USA)

Prize named after Charlemagne (2008) - for the contribution to the development of the European Union.

Order "For Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany"

Order "For Merit of the Italian Republic" Angela Merkel is an honorary member of the

charitable organization "Rotary International" in Stralsund.

2007 - Hebrew University awarded her an honorary doctorate.

2008 - The University of Leipzig awarded Angela Merkel honorary doctorate.

2008 - Honorary Doctor of Sciences of the Polytechnic University of Wroclaw.

2011 - Tel Aviv University awarded Angela Merkel honorary doctorate of philosophy.

Some interesting facts In addition to his native German, Angela Merkel

speaks English and Russian languages. At 36 years old became the youngest cabinet

minister of Helmut Kohl. Sometimes Angela Merkel called "Teutonic

Margaret Thatcher.“ According to the magazine «Forbes» Angela

Merkel eight times became the most influential female politician in the world over the past 11 years.

Angela Merkel described as the de facto leader of the European Union, and was ranked as the world's second most powerful person by Forbes magazine in 2013, the highest ranking ever achieved by a woman. She is now ranked fifth.

On 26 March 2014, she became the longest-serving incumbent head of government in the European Union.

On 28 May 2014, she was named the most powerful woman in the world, also by Forbes.