Angela Merkel is a German politician who has served as Chancellor of Germany since 2005. She is widely regarded as one of the most influential leaders in the European Union and the world.

Merkel has been described as the de facto leader of the European Union and is the leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). She is the first female Chancellor of Germany and the first woman to lead a major German political party.

Merkel is a strong advocate for European integration and has