End of the Merkel era ---------------------------------- Angela Merkel has dominated Germany’s political landscape ever since she became Chancellor in 2005. September’s election will mark the 16th and last year of Merkel’s era Jul 17, 1954: Angela Dorothea Merkel born in Hamburg, West Germany, daughter of Lutheran pastor. Grows up under communist dictatorship of East Germany 1973-86: Educated at Leipzig University and German Academy of Sciences, Berlin. Former quantum chemist Nov 1989: Fall of Berlin Wall reshapes Europe Feb 1990: Merkel becomes spokeswoman of East German Democratic Awakening party, which merges with Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Oct: East and West Germany re-unite Dec: Merkel elected as CDU member of Bundestag (lower house) Dec 1991:Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev to run again as (right) resigns. Former superpower is replaced by 15 independent countries 1994: Merkel – protégée of Chancellor Helmut Kohl (above) – is appointed Minister for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety 1998: Elected Secretary- General of CDU 2000: Arms bribery scandal forces CDU chief Wolfgang Schaeuble (right) to step down. Merkel becomes party’s first female leader 2002: Euro common currency – which is unpopular in Germany – introduced in 12-nation eurozone. Merkel becomes leader of Opposition Nov 22, 2005: Succeeds Gerhard Schroeder (right) as Chancellor of Germany. Merkel inherits Schroeder’s economic reforms. In first term, unemployment rate plunges from 11.5% to 7% 2008: Crises start piling up. Global financial crisis – triggered by U.S. housing market meltdown – hits European economies. Germany sees 8.0% fall in exports. Within a year Greece is almost forced to quit eurozone, causing bitter rifts in EU 2009: Germany enjoys return to economic growth, ending deepest recession since World War Two. Merkel is re-elected as Chancellor 2011: Following Japan’s Fukushima nuclear disaster, Merkel announces shutdown of Germany’s reactors by 2022 2013: Buoyed by jobless rate falling to 5.2%, Merkel is elected for third time 2014: Russia’s President Vladimir Putin (left) invades Ukraine 2015: Popularity slides amid refugee crisis – Merkel admits almost 1.5 million asylum-seekers Jun 2016: Britain’s vote to quit 28-member EU is huge blow to pro-European Merkel Nov: Donald Trump wins U.S. election. Outgoing President Barack Obama (below) pleads with Merkel to run again as chancellor, to counter Trump and right-wing populists in Europe 2017: Merkel elected for fourth time. Unemployment falls to 3.7%, female participation in labour force reaches 70% 2020: Popularity soars during pandemic Jun 2021: Parliament implements 25% quota of female board members in large companies ---------------------------------- Sources: Bloomberg, Brookings, Financial Times, Reuters Pictures: Associated Press, Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS