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Original poster

To be so sad over Angela Merkel retiring!

26 replies

LaplandLucy · 08/12/2021 11:57

She was so inspiring! And it’s even more depressing she’s gone as there’s no women even looking like they can step into her shoes - I don’t mean in Germany. I mean any country in the G8 mixing with the worlds most powerful nations. Back to 100% old men in suits we go.

OP posts:
HollowTalk · 08/12/2021 12:00

Yes, I agree - it's like the grownups have left the room.

TheNicePerkins · 08/12/2021 12:01

She was inspirational as a woman leader.
But she was in power for quite long enough, and in a democracy in time of peace, the leader should rotate more than once every 16 years!

EileenGC · 08/12/2021 12:09

I’m in Germany and she will be missed. People are also kind of happy power is ‘changing hands’, but at the same time it’s hard to imagine the new leadership continuing to do such a good job, and being as inspirational as she is.

She was upfront, honest and humble when something wasn’t her area of expertise, and she inspired confidence. I know many anti-government people here and very few are anti-Merkel. They recognise the dynamics involved in politics and why sometimes they’re shit, but also that she was almost never the one responsible for them.

Such a down to earth person, she could be found regularly in the local supermarket, or seating backstage before a concert with a cup of coffee, talking to the artists about the opera she was about to listen to. You don’t find someone like that very often.

ImJustNotMeAnymore · 08/12/2021 12:24

She was stazi. Only got in because the majority in the former East voted for her while the western block split theirs between more candidates.

HollowTalk · 08/12/2021 12:31

@ImJustNotMeAnymore

She was stazi. Only got in because the majority in the former East voted for her while the western block split theirs between more candidates.
She wasn't Stasi, was she? According to Wikipedia and other online sources: Near the end of her studies, Merkel sought an assistant professorship at an engineering school. As a condition for getting the job, Merkel was told she would need to agree to report on her colleagues to officers of the Ministry for State Security (Stasi). Merkel declined, using the excuse that she could not keep secrets well enough to be an effective spy.
Cruiser123 · 08/12/2021 12:31

She was a fantastic leader. I'm German, but living in the UK. I will miss her.

Wondering1000 · 08/12/2021 12:35

@HollowTalkwow, a Wikipedia page of an elected official! There's no chance anyone has a vested interest in that showing Merkel in the best light, is there?

rifling · 08/12/2021 12:37

Yes, I agree - it's like the grownups have left the room.
My feelings exactly.

2022FastForwardPlease · 08/12/2021 12:39

@LaplandLucy

She was so inspiring! And it’s even more depressing she’s gone as there’s no women even looking like they can step into her shoes - I don’t mean in Germany. I mean any country in the G8 mixing with the worlds most powerful nations. Back to 100% old men in suits we go.
So very dissapointing and depressing in many ways.

We need more women leaders in all walks of life.

FOJN · 08/12/2021 12:42

I didn't agree with every decision she made but I do have a huge amount of respect and admiration for her. She often seemed to be the only grown up in the room. I'm struggling to think of another politician I've regarded as highly, I don't think there is one.

We need more women like her in politics.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 08/12/2021 12:44

I know - it's so rare to see a competent political leader. I hope she enjoys whatever she does next.

thegcatsmother · 08/12/2021 12:46

Hmmmm. Mixed feelings. I disagreed with her about the unilateral decision to let migrants in. I disliked the way Germany continually breached the growth and stability pact. Defence wise, Germany is not in the best place and needs to hit the NATO 2%. Nordstream 2 is a mistake, as is cosying up to the Chinese regime.

TheWhalrus · 08/12/2021 12:54

I live in Germany, while I respect her attitude and approach (largely viewing politics as a service to the nation, as opposed to an opportunity for personal enrichment), I have to say some of her party's domestic and particularly social policies were quite regressive (and are now quite rightly being overturned). I also thought many of her economic policies lacked vision.

For example, in her 16 years in government she did absolutely nothing to overturn abortion laws (that were originally introduced by the nazis) that prohibit advertising of abortion services at specific clinics (even on the list of services offered by the clinic website) and also not permitting GPs to refer women who seek an abortion to abortion services.

There is also the attitude to gay marriage. Germany was the first country in the world to permit civil partnerships for same-sex couples, but only allowed equal marriage rights in 2017. Even then Merkel and many of her party voted against this, and I suspect they only allowed gay marriage because all of their potential coalition partners were in favour (ie they would have had to do it anyway). Furthermore, there are other regressive attitudes that are (rightly IMHO) being overturned, such as the rules on dual citizenships, which also seem massively outdated.

Essentially, while I respect frau Merkel, I think its time for Germany to move on and modernize.

BlackForestCake · 08/12/2021 13:31

The election result shows that Germans liked Merkel more than they liked her party.

AllesAusLiebe · 08/12/2021 13:40

I find the prospect of the traffic light coalition sadder, personally.

I don't know - it's not a straightforward answer. Like all leaders, Merkel was somewhat flawed. I also believe she benefitted greatly from there really being no viable challenger for leadership of the CDU.

I liked her, though. I also agree that it's essential to have models of competent women in politics. She didn't appear to take any bullshit either - who can forget that infamous meeting with Trump?!

Abroad, she'll be remembered for her reaction to the migrant crisis, which was certainly decisive, but probably not in the best interests of the country.

That said, she presided over a prolonged period of general stability and we tend to like that sort of thing . . . Wink

TheWhalrus · 08/12/2021 13:55

@AllesAusLiebe: I tend to think frau Merkel lacked a meaningful challenger because she was very clever at using her authority to actively suppress potential challengers (usually by moving them to minister for defence, which is an entirely kafka-esque position in German politics).

I would also argue that immigration is in the best interests of the country: Germany needs about 500,000 immigrants a year just to balance the economic effects of its ageing population. OK these need to be mostly skilled immigrants and they need to be integrated into society, nonetheless, mass immigration (if done correctly) does benefit Germany. It just isn't perceived to benefit Germany and wasn't popular among her party's traditional supporters.

PinkAndPurpleClouds · 08/12/2021 13:57

I don't care TBH. She had too many flaws for my liking, and too many political views I disliked, and I am glad she is going.

billy1966 · 08/12/2021 14:00

I feel the same.

Decency and character 0q

teleskopregel · 08/12/2021 14:40

Interestingly, in the new chancellor's cabinet, there is a huge number of women. I am excited to see how they will go. Angela Merkel will be missed by us. She has shown such stable, reliable leadership.

thereisonlyoneofme · 08/12/2021 15:14

Do you think she would come to the UK and help us out Grin

Original poster
LaplandLucy · 08/12/2021 15:17

@EileenGC

I’m in Germany and she will be missed. People are also kind of happy power is ‘changing hands’, but at the same time it’s hard to imagine the new leadership continuing to do such a good job, and being as inspirational as she is.

She was upfront, honest and humble when something wasn’t her area of expertise, and she inspired confidence. I know many anti-government people here and very few are anti-Merkel. They recognise the dynamics involved in politics and why sometimes they’re shit, but also that she was almost never the one responsible for them.

Such a down to earth person, she could be found regularly in the local supermarket, or seating backstage before a concert with a cup of coffee, talking to the artists about the opera she was about to listen to. You don’t find someone like that very often.

Lovely post!!
OP posts:
HollowTalk · 08/12/2021 23:16

The thing is that we all have to put up with political parties that we don't agree with from time to time. That's just the way of democracy.

However I think she was a thoroughly decent woman and stands miles and miles apart from politicians like David Cameron and Boris Johnson. She is honest and trustworthy and I would far rather have her in power here than those guys.

VestaTilley · 08/12/2021 23:58

I agree completely. Such a role model for children and an exemplary leader.

So much better than all the dick waving, egotistical men. Pragmatic, thoughtful, responsive and calm. Just what Europe needs. I’m very sorry she’s gone.

Valeriekat · 09/12/2021 08:55

She was in power too long.

Choirgirl2021 · 09/12/2021 21:30

I just couldn’t resist

m.youtube.com/watch?v=GVn_zcLJGNQ

Tracy Ullman does Angela Merckel