Merkel, Angela (1954–)

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Merkel, Angela (1954–)

German politician and physicist. Born July 17, 1954, in Hamburg, Germany; dau. of a Lutheran minister; University of Leipzig, PhD in physics, 1986; m. 2nd husband, a chemistry professor, 1999.

Was a member of the Free German Youth in the German Democratic Republic (GDR, 1971–90); became a member of Demokratisher Aufbruch (1989); was assistant spokesperson for the last government of the GDR (1990); with unification, joined the Christian Democratic Union (CDW, 1990); elected to the German Parliament (Bundestag) from the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (1990); in a political career supported by Chancellor Helmut Kohl, served as federal minister for Women and Youth (1991–94), federal minister for Environment, Conservation and Nuclear Safety (1994–98), vice chair of CDU (1991–98), and CDU chair in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (1993–2000); became chair of CDU (2000), heading the opposition in the Bundestag, became the 1st female chancellor of Germany (2005).

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