German Chancellor, Angela Merkel will step down at the end of this year after serving 16 years as the head of Germany's government. Merkel had entered politics at the age of 35.

German Chancellor, Angela Merkel steps down after serving 16 years as head of Germany's govt

The candidates to become Germany’s next chancellor had faced off in a TV debate. Armin Laschet, the candidate from Angela Merkel's party CDU tried to turn his fortunes around by attacking finance minister Olaf Scholz of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) over his track record on tackling money laundering and corruption.

German election candidates face off in first TV debate

Armin Laschet, the leader of Germany’s Christian Democrats (CDU), won the backing of senior party members at an internal meeting on Monday night (19 April) to run as the conservative chancellor candidate to succeed Angela Merkel at the September election.

Laschet and Markus Söder, who leads the CDU’s Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU), have been at loggerheads over who is better placed to lead the conservative alliance into the federal election.

With Merkel stepping down after the election, pressure has been mounting on the bloc, dubbed 'The Union', to agree on a candidate as its ratings wallow near a one-year low, hurt by the chaotic handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

By backing Laschet, 60, the less popular of the two men, the CDU elite has prioritised its ascendancy in the conservative bloc over the prospect of being led to victory by Soeder, 54, who would then hold sway over the alliance and could potentially dominate it for years. read more

After more than six hours of debate going into the night, Laschet garnered the votes of 31 out of 46 members of the CDU's federal executive committee, representing a majority of 77.5%, party sources said.

Soeder, who did not participate in the virtual CDU meeting, won the backing of nine members while six others abstained, according to the participants.

The leader of the CSU party had said on Monday that he would accept a "clear decision" by the CDU leadership and step aside. He had not yet commented on the outcome of the meeting early on Tuesday.

The bloc is likely to make a joint decision on a candidate later on Tuesday, Thorsten Frei, deputy leader of the CDU/CSU group in parliament, told broadcaster Deutschlandfunk.

(With inputs from agencies)

Armin Laschet, the leader of Germany’s Christian Democrats (CDU), won the backing of senior party members at an internal meeting on Monday night (19 April) to run as the conservative chancellor candidate to succeed Angela Merkel at the September election.

Armin Laschet, the leader of Germany’s Christian Democrats (CDU), won the backing of senior party members at an internal meeting on Monday night (19 April) to run as the conservative chancellor candidate to succeed Angela Merkel at the September election. Laschet and Markus Söder, who leads the CDU’s Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU), have been at loggerheads over who is better placed to lead the conservative alliance into the federal election. With Merkel stepping down after the election, pressure has been mounting on the bloc, dubbed 'The Union', to agree on a candidate as its ratings wallow near a one-year low, hurt by the chaotic handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. By backing Laschet, 60, the less popular of the two men, the CDU elite has prioritised its ascendancy in the conservative bloc over the prospect of being led to victory by Soeder, 54, who would then hold sway over the alliance and could potentially dominate it for years. read more After more than six hours of debate going into the night, Laschet garnered the votes of 31 out of 46 members of the CDU's federal executive committee, representing a majority of 77.5%, party sources said. Soeder, who did not participate in the virtual CDU meeting, won the backing of nine members while six others abstained, according to the participants. The leader of the CSU party had said on Monday that he would accept a "clear decision" by the CDU leadership and step aside. He had not yet commented on the outcome of the meeting early on Tuesday. The bloc is likely to make a joint decision on a candidate later on Tuesday, Thorsten Frei, deputy leader of the CDU/CSU group in parliament, told broadcaster Deutschlandfunk. (With inputs from agencies)

CDU party board backs Laschet to run as German conservative chancellor candidate

German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian's Democrat Party has suffered clear defeats in two German state elections held six months before a national vote that will decide who succeeds the country’s longtime leader.

Germany: Chancellor Merkel’s Party suffers clear defeat in two German state elections

Its the end of an era as later this year, the German Chancellor&nbsp;Angela Merkel will step down from her position after serving the country for 15 long years and as one of the de-facto leaders of Europe, now her party has appointed a new leader.

Only a few leaders can boast of a track record that can match Angela Merkel's record.&nbsp; Severing as the german chancellor for 15 years and counting, she&nbsp;has worked with five British prime ministers, four French presidents, seven Italian prime ministers and once Joe Biden takes oath, four American presidents.

Now, one of the world's most successful politicians is stepping down. She is&nbsp;keeping the promise she made in 2018.

Also read|<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/lesser-known-facts-about-angela-merkel-set-to-return-as-germanys-chancellor-20574">&nbsp;Lesser known facts about Angela Merkel, set to return as Germany's Chancellor</a>

Her party now has a new leader — Armin Laschet. He will lead the charge of the Christian democratic union in the September polls.

Merkel's exit from the Chancellor's office will be the end of an era as she&nbsp;was the first woman to take Germany's top job in 2005.

When Merkel rose to power,&nbsp;many had dismissed her as inexperienced and uncharismatic. However,&nbsp;during her 15-year reign, Merkel has proved herself time and again.

Merkel's achievements

Three years into office, Merkel faced her greatest challenge in form of the&nbsp;2008 financial crisis that&nbsp;shook entire Europe. However, not only did Merkel steer Germany during the meltdown, but she was at the heart of the response to the eurozone debt crisis — one that could have led to the economic collapse of Greece, Portugal, Ireland, Spain and Cyprus.

Merkel held her own&nbsp;in front of adversaries,&nbsp;even when they tried to overpower or humiliate her. One famous&nbsp;instance of this is when Vladimir Putin brought a dog into a meeting with Merkel. It is quite popularly known that Merkel is afraid of dogs. However, the leader handled the situation with the utmost grace and confidence.

Hard days

Her last years in office, however, were upended by a refugee crisis. More than one million refugees arrived in Germany in 2015.&nbsp;Not only did Merkel welcome them, but she even convinced some European allies to accept some of them.

In 2018, she was elected for a record fourth term in office, but her party lost votes which forced Merkel&nbsp;to form a grand collation to keep power. Realising the end of the road is near, Merkel decided she will not run for a fifth term.

Her departure might trigger uncertainty as Germany hasn't been immune to the rise of the right. Parties like the alternative for Germany ate into the votes of established players in the last election.

The European Union remains a divided bloc, especially after the UK's exit from the EU. The coronavirus has also&nbsp;widened the differences,&nbsp;with authoritarian leaders in Hungary and Poland often rejecting the proposals laid out by their&nbsp;European partners.

So far, Merkel has managed to keep key allies together. However, both at home, and in the continent, the next leader of Germany has some big shoes to fill.

Its the end of an era as later this year, the German Chancellor Angela Merkel will step down from her position after serving the country for 15 long years and as one of the de-facto leaders of Europe, now her party has appointed a new leader.

Its the end of an era as later this year, the German Chancellor Angela Merkel will step down from her position after serving the country for 15 long years and as one of the de-facto leaders of Europe, now her party has appointed a new leader. Only a few leaders can boast of a track record that can match Angela Merkel's record. Severing as the german chancellor for 15 years and counting, she has worked with five British prime ministers, four French presidents, seven Italian prime ministers and once Joe Biden takes oath, four American presidents. Now, one of the world's most successful politicians is stepping down. She is keeping the promise she made in 2018. Also read| Lesser known facts about Angela Merkel, set to return as Germany's Chancellor Her party now has a new leader — Armin Laschet. He will lead the charge of the Christian democratic union in the September polls. Merkel's exit from the Chancellor's office will be the end of an era as she was the first woman to take Germany's top job in 2005. When Merkel rose to power, many had dismissed her as inexperienced and uncharismatic. However, during her 15-year reign, Merkel has proved herself time and again. Merkel's achievements Three years into office, Merkel faced her greatest challenge in form of the 2008 financial crisis that shook entire Europe. However, not only did Merkel steer Germany during the meltdown, but she was at the heart of the response to the eurozone debt crisis — one that could have led to the economic collapse of Greece, Portugal, Ireland, Spain and Cyprus. Merkel held her own in front of adversaries, even when they tried to overpower or humiliate her. One famous instance of this is when Vladimir Putin brought a dog into a meeting with Merkel. It is quite popularly known that Merkel is afraid of dogs. However, the leader handled the situation with the utmost grace and confidence. Hard days Her last years in office, however, were upended by a refugee crisis. More than one million refugees arrived in Germany in 2015. Not only did Merkel welcome them, but she even convinced some European allies to accept some of them. In 2018, she was elected for a record fourth term in office, but her party lost votes which forced Merkel to form a grand collation to keep power. Realising the end of the road is near, Merkel decided she will not run for a fifth term. Her departure might trigger uncertainty as Germany hasn't been immune to the rise of the right. Parties like the alternative for Germany ate into the votes of established players in the last election. The European Union remains a divided bloc, especially after the UK's exit from the EU. The coronavirus has also widened the differences, with authoritarian leaders in Hungary and Poland often rejecting the proposals laid out by their European partners. So far, Merkel has managed to keep key allies together. However, both at home, and in the continent, the next leader of Germany has some big shoes to fill.

End of an era: German Chancellor Angela Merkel prepares to step down after 15 years

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is stepping down after 16 years in office. Centrist Armin Laschet has now been elected as the leader of Germany's Christian Democrat.

Germany: Armin Laschet elected as a leader of Angela Merkel's CDU party

Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel on Wednesday said that the government will be extending its virus restrictions till January 10 in order to contain the virus spread.

German Chancellor says, "Govt to extend its COVID -19 virus restriction" | DW-WION Partnership

The leaders of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee asked President Donald Trump on Wednesday to consider whether the Russian government poisoned Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny with a chemical nerve agent, which would subject Moscow to sanctions.

"We are very concerned by assessments that Russian anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny was poisoned in August 2020, by a chemical nerve agent from the Novichok family," the committee's Republican chairman, Senator Jim Risch, and its Democratic ranking member, Senator Bob Menendez, wrote in a letter to Trump.

The request - which followed a similar request from leaders of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee on September 8 - added to growing international support for a response to Navalny's poisoning. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said earlier on Wednesday her country would discuss a response with European partners.

The Kremlin critic was discharged from Berlin's Charite hospital last week following 32 days of treatment after falling ill on a Russian domestic flight. Germany says he was poisoned with a Soviet-style Novichok nerve agent. Moscow has said it has seen no evidence that Navalny was poisoned.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the letter from Risch and Menendez. The deputy US ambassador to the United Nations, Cherith Norman-Chalet, told the UN Security Council earlier this month that it would work with allies to hold accountable those responsible for poisoning Navalny.

The leaders of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee asked President Donald Trump on Wednesday to consider whether the Russian government poisoned Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny with a chemical nerve agent, which would subject Moscow to sanctions.

The leaders of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee asked President Donald Trump on Wednesday to consider whether the Russian government poisoned Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny with a chemical nerve agent, which would subject Moscow to sanctions. "We are very concerned by assessments that Russian anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny was poisoned in August 2020, by a chemical nerve agent from the Novichok family," the committee's Republican chairman, Senator Jim Risch, and its Democratic ranking member, Senator Bob Menendez, wrote in a letter to Trump. The request - which followed a similar request from leaders of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee on September 8 - added to growing international support for a response to Navalny's poisoning. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said earlier on Wednesday her country would discuss a response with European partners. The Kremlin critic was discharged from Berlin's Charite hospital last week following 32 days of treatment after falling ill on a Russian domestic flight. Germany says he was poisoned with a Soviet-style Novichok nerve agent. Moscow has said it has seen no evidence that Navalny was poisoned. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the letter from Risch and Menendez. The deputy US ambassador to the United Nations, Cherith Norman-Chalet, told the UN Security Council earlier this month that it would work with allies to hold accountable those responsible for poisoning Navalny.

US lawmakers ask Donald Trump to investigate Kremlin critic's poisoning

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said that she will hold talks with Belarus's main opposition leader, days after French President Emanuel Macron met with her. Watch report.

Belarus Political Unrest: Angela Merkel to meet opposition leader

German Chancellor Angela Merkel paid a personal visit to Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny while he was undergoing treatment in a Berlin hospital for poisoning.

"It was a personal visit to Navalny in hospital," Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert told a regular news conference, declining to disclose details of what was said or how long the meeting lasted.

The Kremlin critic wrote on Twitter that it was "a private meeting and conversation with the family". He added: "I am very grateful to Chancellor Merkel for visiting me in hospital."

Navalny was flown from Russia to Berlin last month after falling ill on a domestic flight. He received treatment in the Charite hospital for 32 days before being discharged last week.

According to the finding of German, French and Swedish experts, Navalny was poisoned with a nerve agent in Russia last month. But Moscow has so far rejected this.

Russia has repeatedly criticised Berlin for what Moscow says is a failure to share information on the case.

Navalny added: "I am very grateful to Chancellor Merkel for visiting me in hospital."

The Navalny case has further worsened relations between Moscow and a number of western countries.&nbsp;

Merkel has faced calls to halt the nearly-completed Nord Stream 2 pipeline bringing Russian gas to Germany.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel paid a personal visit to Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny while he was undergoing treatment in a Berlin hospital for poisoning.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel paid a personal visit to Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny while he was undergoing treatment in a Berlin hospital for poisoning. "It was a personal visit to Navalny in hospital," Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert told a regular news conference, declining to disclose details of what was said or how long the meeting lasted. The Kremlin critic wrote on Twitter that it was "a private meeting and conversation with the family". He added: "I am very grateful to Chancellor Merkel for visiting me in hospital." Navalny was flown from Russia to Berlin last month after falling ill on a domestic flight. He received treatment in the Charite hospital for 32 days before being discharged last week. According to the finding of German, French and Swedish experts, Navalny was poisoned with a nerve agent in Russia last month. But Moscow has so far rejected this. Russia has repeatedly criticised Berlin for what Moscow says is a failure to share information on the case. Navalny added: "I am very grateful to Chancellor Merkel for visiting me in hospital." The Navalny case has further worsened relations between Moscow and a number of western countries. Merkel has faced calls to halt the nearly-completed Nord Stream 2 pipeline bringing Russian gas to Germany.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel visits Kremlin critic Navalny in hospital

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have expressed concern over the health of Alexei Navalny and called the situation worrying. Watch report.

France and Germany offer immediate help to Putin's prominent critic Alexei Navalny

French President Emmanuel Macron is offering to mediate in Belarus to resolve the country's ongoing power struggle. Watch report. The French President and German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed the crisis at Macron's summer retreat.

French President offers to mediate in Belarus power struggle

The Wuhan Coronavirus has claimed more than 15,000 lives. The 2020 Olympics could be postponed given the unfolding crisis. WION's Palki Sharma tells you the top 10 global developments for Monday.

Gravitas: Wuhan Coronavirus, Top 10 global updates for March 23

German Chancellor Angela Merkel quarantines herself, the doctor who vaccinated her tested positive for coronavirus. Merkel said, she will be working from home in coming days and will do her regular test

Angela Merkel quarantines herself

World leaders have agreed to UN arms embargo on Libya and to stop providing military support to the country's warring factions. However, the Berlin Summit failed to achieve its main goal of brokering a seize fire. Libya's warring factions and their allies met in Berlin in the first major international summit on the Libyan conflict in recent years. German chancellor Angela Merkel called for a political solution but she did not rule out military intervention in the North African countries civil war.

Libya peace summit in Berlin: World leaders agree on UN arms embargo

Like every Thursday night back then, Angela Merkel was relaxing in an East Berlin sauna on the night of November 9, 1989 as the Berlin Wall fell, dreaming of tasting oysters in the West.

The future chancellor of Germany was indulging in a favourite German winter pastime on the night that led to German reunification.

"Every Thursday, I would go to the sauna with a friend," Merkel, in power since 2005, recounted to Berlin schoolchildren a few years ago.&nbsp;

At the time Merkel was a 35-year-old physicist at the East Berlin Academy of Sciences.

Born in Hamburg but raised in the German Democratic Republic (GDR), she was already divorced from the first husband whose name she still uses.

She lived then in a two-room flat in Prenzlauer Berg, these days a favourite haunt of trendy young professionals.

Before her sauna session on November 9, Merkel called her mother Herlind Kasner, who lived around 80 kilometres north of the capital.

She had just heard that East German citizens were free to cross the border.

But in those confusing first hours as the barriers opened, no-one could quite believe it was really happening.

"I didn't really understand what I was hearing," Merkel has said.

Oysters at Kempinski's

The family had "an in-joke" at the time that Merkel would take her mother "to eat oysters at Kempinski's", a high-end hotel in the West.

"Watch out mum, there's something up today," she warned her mother, before hanging up and heading to the sauna.

While she was enjoying the heat, history shifted up a gear.

The first border crossing opened not far from Merkel's flat, and champagne corks popped as people celebrated the end of the division that had scarred Germany and Europe since the Second World War.

One of the crowd

On her way home, she saw people on their way to the crossing.

"I'll never forget it, it was maybe 10:30 pm, or 11, or even a little later," the chancellor recalled.

"I was alone but I followed the crowd... and suddenly we found ourselves on the western side of Berlin."

Just another member of the crowd, Merkel drank her first can of Western beer in a flat rented by total strangers.

But the thought of her alarm sounding in the morning dogged the scientist even through that historic night, sending her home long before the festivities were over.

Soon after, Merkel left physics behind to begin a career in politics.

In 1990, she was elected an MP for the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), then led by Helmut Kohl.

The following year, Kohl named her a minister for the very first time.

But in all the years since, Merkel never got to fulfil her pre-1989 wish.

"I never went to Kempinski's to eat oysters with my mother," Merkel has admitted. Her mother died earlier this year, aged 90.

Like every Thursday night back then, Angela Merkel was relaxing in an East Berlin sauna on the night of November 9, 1989 as the Berlin Wall fell, dreaming of tasting oysters in the West.

Like every Thursday night back then, Angela Merkel was relaxing in an East Berlin sauna on the night of November 9, 1989 as the Berlin Wall fell, dreaming of tasting oysters in the West. The future chancellor of Germany was indulging in a favourite German winter pastime on the night that led to German reunification. "Every Thursday, I would go to the sauna with a friend," Merkel, in power since 2005, recounted to Berlin schoolchildren a few years ago. At the time Merkel was a 35-year-old physicist at the East Berlin Academy of Sciences. Born in Hamburg but raised in the German Democratic Republic (GDR), she was already divorced from the first husband whose name she still uses. She lived then in a two-room flat in Prenzlauer Berg, these days a favourite haunt of trendy young professionals. Before her sauna session on November 9, Merkel called her mother Herlind Kasner, who lived around 80 kilometres north of the capital. She had just heard that East German citizens were free to cross the border. But in those confusing first hours as the barriers opened, no-one could quite believe it was really happening. "I didn't really understand what I was hearing," Merkel has said. Oysters at Kempinski's The family had "an in-joke" at the time that Merkel would take her mother "to eat oysters at Kempinski's", a high-end hotel in the West. "Watch out mum, there's something up today," she warned her mother, before hanging up and heading to the sauna. While she was enjoying the heat, history shifted up a gear. The first border crossing opened not far from Merkel's flat, and champagne corks popped as people celebrated the end of the division that had scarred Germany and Europe since the Second World War. One of the crowd On her way home, she saw people on their way to the crossing. "I'll never forget it, it was maybe 10:30 pm, or 11, or even a little later," the chancellor recalled. "I was alone but I followed the crowd... and suddenly we found ourselves on the western side of Berlin." Just another member of the crowd, Merkel drank her first can of Western beer in a flat rented by total strangers. But the thought of her alarm sounding in the morning dogged the scientist even through that historic night, sending her home long before the festivities were over. Soon after, Merkel left physics behind to begin a career in politics. In 1990, she was elected an MP for the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), then led by Helmut Kohl. The following year, Kohl named her a minister for the very first time. But in all the years since, Merkel never got to fulfil her pre-1989 wish. "I never went to Kempinski's to eat oysters with my mother," Merkel has admitted. Her mother died earlier this year, aged 90.

Sauna and oysters: German chancellor Angela Merkel recalls Berlin Wall fall

German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrived in India on Thursday night for a two-day visit during which she will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a host of bilateral issues.

PM Modi meets Germany's Angela Merkel

Angela Merkel Receives Ceremonial Welcome At Rashtrapati Bhawan. Watch video to know more.

Angela Merkel Receives Ceremonial Welcome At Rashtrapati Bhawan

German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives in Delhi. Watch video to know more.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives in Delhi

German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrived in India on Thursday night for a 3-day visit during which she met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and held bilateral talks on a host of bilateral issues.

German Chancellor on a 3-day visit to india, Modi-Merkel's 5th meet this year

German Chancellor Angela Merkel began her trip to India with a ceremonial welcome accorded to her at the Presidential Palace in capital New Delhi on Friday (November 01).

German Chancellor Merkel begins India trip eyeing trade ties boost

India-Germany exchange agreements; 'Bond With India Based on Values Like Democracy' says Merkel

Merkel Appears unsteady for 3rd time

Fresh Fears Over The Health Of Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel German Chancellor Angela Merkel was seen in a shaking fit during an event. This is the second time Merkel has been seen suffering from health issues in public glare in the last few weeks. She will attend the G20 summit though. Germany's privacy laws prevent information on her health. Palki with the story.

Gravitas: German Chancellor Angela Merkel seen shaking, again

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was seen shaking as she met President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Thursday, her second such bout within two weeks, but her spokesman said she was fine. Merkel, 64, was attending a farewell ceremony for Justice Minister Katharina Barley, who is leaving to become a lawmaker in the European Parliament.

Germany's Merkel seen shaking for second time this month

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was seen shaking when she met visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Tuesday (June 18) but said she had since drunk water and was feeling better.

Angela Merkel says recovered from shaking bout after drinking water

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/merkels-coalition-in-crisis-talks-after-european-union-vote-debacle-221923">German Chancellor Angela Merkel </a>dismissed concerns about her health after visibly trembling at an official ceremony Tuesday, saying she was just a bit dehydrated in the heat.

Merkel appeared unsteady and was shaking as she stood in the midday sun next to visiting Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, whom she was welcoming to her office building with military honours.

Asked by a reporter about her wellbeing at a news conference about 90 minutes later, Merkel smiled, "I've drunk at least three glasses of water and so I'm doing fine."

Zelensky, 41, made light of Merkel's uneasy spell, joking that he would have come to her rescue if necessary.&nbsp;

"She was standing next to me and completely safe," he said.

Merkel, frequently called the European Union's most influential leader and the most powerful woman in the world, turns 65 next month.&nbsp;

She has said she will leave politics at the end of her term, in 2021.

There were brief concerns about her health in 2014 when she was taken ill during a television interview. The broadcast was briefly interrupted when she experienced a drop in blood pressure.

Her spokesman Steffen Seibert explained at the time the leader did not feel well for a moment, then ate and drank something and continued the interview. 
&nbsp;

German Chancellor Angela Merkel dismissed concerns about her health after visibly trembling at an official ceremony Tuesday, saying she was just a bit dehydrated in the heat.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel dismissed concerns about her health after visibly trembling at an official ceremony Tuesday, saying she was just a bit dehydrated in the heat. Merkel appeared unsteady and was shaking as she stood in the midday sun next to visiting Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, whom she was welcoming to her office building with military honours. Asked by a reporter about her wellbeing at a news conference about 90 minutes later, Merkel smiled, "I've drunk at least three glasses of water and so I'm doing fine." Zelensky, 41, made light of Merkel's uneasy spell, joking that he would have come to her rescue if necessary. "She was standing next to me and completely safe," he said. Merkel, frequently called the European Union's most influential leader and the most powerful woman in the world, turns 65 next month. She has said she will leave politics at the end of her term, in 2021. There were brief concerns about her health in 2014 when she was taken ill during a television interview. The broadcast was briefly interrupted when she experienced a drop in blood pressure. Her spokesman Steffen Seibert explained at the time the leader did not feel well for a moment, then ate and drank something and continued the interview.

Watch: Angela Merkel seen trembling at official ceremony, says she was just a bit dehydrated

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was seen shaking when she met visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Tuesday but said she had since drunk water and was feeling better. Merkel looked as if she were struggling to stand up while she and Zelenskiy listened to national anthems during military honours upon his arrival.

Merkel says recovered from shaking bout after drinking water

It was an end of an era in Germany after Angela Merkel, the country’s four-time Chancellor, announced in October that she will not stand again for the leadership of her party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), following a string of poll setbacks.

A vote that followed Merkel’s announcement saw her close ally Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer emerging as the party’s choice for the new leader. Merkel, 64, had been at the helm of the party for 18 years.

Merkel first became Germany’s chancellor in 2005 and will seek another term in the election set for 2021. She has seen four French presidents and four British prime ministers during her time in office.

The CDU's choice marked a vote for relative political stability in Europe as British Prime Minister Theresa May faces Brexit turmoil and French President Emmanuel Macron's government is rocked by violent street protests.

The biggest political crisis that Merkel has faced during her long career is a 2015 decision to welcome more than one million asylum seekers fleeing crisis zones such as Syria and Iraq. The decision continues to roil German politics and many publications in the country say it hurt the party in national election in September last year.

But despite her diminishing authority, Merkel was named the most powerful woman in the world by Forbes magazine in 2017. She has topped the Forbes list for the seventh consecutive year, and for the 12th time in total.

Born in 1954, Merkel studied physics at Karl Marx University (now known as University of Leipzig). She was awarded a doctorate for her thesis on quantum chemistry in 1986.

Merkel entered politics after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, joining the Conservative Alliance which was a part of Christian Democratic Union and German Social Union coalition. She formally joined the CDU in 1990 and won her first election in December that year.

Merkel was elected to lead the CDU in the year 2000, becoming the first woman to lead the party. In the 2002 election for Chancellorship, there was no consensus on Merkel’s name but political turns in Germany led to early elections, in 2005, in which a grand coalition was announced with Merkel at its head. She took oath as Chancellor of Germany for the first time on November 22, 2005, becoming the first woman, the first East German and at aged 51 at that time, the youngest to hold the post in Germany.

It was an end of an era in Germany after Angela Merkel, the country’s four-time Chancellor, announced in October that she will not stand again for the leadership of her party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), following a string of poll setbacks.

It was an end of an era in Germany after Angela Merkel, the country’s four-time Chancellor, announced in October that she will not stand again for the leadership of her party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), following a string of poll setbacks. A vote that followed Merkel’s announcement saw her close ally Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer emerging as the party’s choice for the new leader. Merkel, 64, had been at the helm of the party for 18 years. Merkel first became Germany’s chancellor in 2005 and will seek another term in the election set for 2021. She has seen four French presidents and four British prime ministers during her time in office. The CDU's choice marked a vote for relative political stability in Europe as British Prime Minister Theresa May faces Brexit turmoil and French President Emmanuel Macron's government is rocked by violent street protests. The biggest political crisis that Merkel has faced during her long career is a 2015 decision to welcome more than one million asylum seekers fleeing crisis zones such as Syria and Iraq. The decision continues to roil German politics and many publications in the country say it hurt the party in national election in September last year. But despite her diminishing authority, Merkel was named the most powerful woman in the world by Forbes magazine in 2017. She has topped the Forbes list for the seventh consecutive year, and for the 12th time in total. Born in 1954, Merkel studied physics at Karl Marx University (now known as University of Leipzig). She was awarded a doctorate for her thesis on quantum chemistry in 1986. Merkel entered politics after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, joining the Conservative Alliance which was a part of Christian Democratic Union and German Social Union coalition. She formally joined the CDU in 1990 and won her first election in December that year. Merkel was elected to lead the CDU in the year 2000, becoming the first woman to lead the party. In the 2002 election for Chancellorship, there was no consensus on Merkel’s name but political turns in Germany led to early elections, in 2005, in which a grand coalition was announced with Merkel at its head. She took oath as Chancellor of Germany for the first time on November 22, 2005, becoming the first woman, the first East German and at aged 51 at that time, the youngest to hold the post in Germany.

The life and times of German chancellor Angela Merkel

Angela Merkel's journey to becoming a veteran European leader

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