Angela Merkel

Angela Merkel, born July 17, 1954, served as the Chancellor of Germany from 2005 to 2021. She is notable for her pragmatic leadership during the Eurozone crisis, where she played a key role in negotiating bailout packages for struggling European economies. Merkel also spearheaded Germany's Energiewende policy, aiming to transition from nuclear and fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. In 2015, she made the significant decision to open Germany's borders to over a million refugees, a move that both defined her tenure and sparked considerable debate. Merkel's tenure is marked by her scientific background, having earned a doctorate in physics, which influenced her methodical approach to governance.