Vergangenheit und Nostalgie: Merkel-Mania? Warum die Kanzlerin a. D. so viele Fans bewegt
Schlicht, sachlich, stabil: So erinnern sich viele an Angela Merkels 16 Jahre im Kanzleramt. In instabilen Zeiten mit viel Streit wächst Nostalgie. Für Nachfolger Friedrich Merz ein harter Brocken.
Angela Merkel, the former German Chancellor, continues to captivate the public long after leaving office. Her blue blazer, black pants, and iconic hairstyle drew people to a portrait of her at the Berlin Bode-Museum, extending the exhibition by three months until January 3rd. Merkel is expected to sign postcards featuring her portrait after five years since her tenure ended.
Five years after stepping down from the chancellorship, Merkel is suddenly seen and heard everywhere. In February, she attended the CDU party conference and was celebrated. Rumors circulated about her potential role as the next Federal President or as Ukraine's mediator. Her autobiography, "Freedom," has sold over a million copies worldwide.
Merkel's presence in Berlin is due to her 736-page autobiography selling well globally, with hundreds attending her readings and signing sessions. People admire Merkel for her calmness, decisiveness, and leadership during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic and the refugee wave. Her successor, Friedrich Merz, has historically poor approval ratings, with 9 out of 10 people expressing dissatisfaction.
Some attribute Merkel's enduring popularity to nostalgia, while others appreciate her style of leadership, which they find trustworthy, unpretentious, and clear. A YouGov survey found that 48% of respondents believe Merkel is better suited to address today's challenges than Merz.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
