Opinion

Angela Merkel governed Germany for 16 years, but never led

Wrongly compared to Margaret Thatcher, avoiding much needed economic reform was easy for the retiring chancellor who never had any political convictions from the start.

Oliver HartwichContributor

Sep 26, 2021 – 12.02pm

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If all political careers end in failure, then Angela Merkel is the exception to the rule. When Germany goes to the elections on Sunday, the chancellor will not seek re-election after 16 years in power.

Merkel has achieved what few other political leaders manage: to retire of her own volition.

Oliver Hartwich is executive director of The New Zealand Initiative, a business think tank in Wellington.