Primary tabs

Career

Government of the Federal Republic of Germany
2005–present
Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany
Christian Democratic Union of Germany
2000–present
Chairwoman Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany
European Council
2007
President of the European Council (semiannual rotating Presidency) Bruxelles, Kingdom of Belgium
German Bundestag (Parliament)
20022005
Chairwoman CDU/CSU parliamentary group
Christian Democratic Union of Germany
19982000
General Secretary Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany
Christian Democratic Union of Germany
19932000
Chairwoman Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
Cabinet of Germany
19941998
Federal Minister of the Environment Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety / Bonn, Federal Republic of Germany
Cabinet of Germany
19911994
Federal Minister for Women and Youth Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth / Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany
12th Bundestag (Parliament)
19901991
Member Constituency of Stralsund – Nordvorpommern – Rügen / District of Vorpommern-Rügen
Academy of Sciences
19781990
Research Associate Central Institute for Physical Chemistry, Berlin-Adlershof / Federal Republic of Germany

Professional affiliations

2000–present
Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany President
1990–present
Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany Member
19911998
Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany Deputy Chairwoman
19891990
"Demokratischer Aufbruch" (Democratic Awakening) Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany Member and spokeswoman

Accomplishments of note

2005
First female Chancellor of Germany and one of the architects of the European Union Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany

Professional honors and awards

2014
President's Medal - Medal of Distinction President of the State of Israel Shimon Peres For outstanding contribution to the State of Israel or to humanity
2013
Indira Gandhi Peace Prize Republic of India In recognition of creative efforts toward promoting international peace, development and a new international economic order
2011
Global Leadership Award (AICGS) American Institute for Contemporary German Studies, Johns Hopkins University / Washington, District of Columbia USA In recognition of her outstanding dedication to strengthening German-American relations
List of The World's Most Powerful People - 2013-ranked 5th; 2012-ranked 2nd Forbes Magazine
2011
Jawaharlal Nehru Award for the Year 2009 Government of the Republic of India For international understanding
2011
Presidential Medal of Freedom President of the United States Barack Obama For especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors
2010
Named "The World's 50 Most Influential Figures" New Statesman
2008
Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany President of Federal Republic of Germany
2008
International Charlemagne Prize of the City of Aachen Society for the Conferring of the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen For distinguished service on behalf of European unification
Ranked 1 on List of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women - Years: 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2009, 2008, 2007 and 2006 Forbes Magazine
2008
Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic Italian Republic
2006
Edmond Israel Foundation Vision for Europe Award H.E. Jean-Claude Juncker, Prime Minister of Luxembourg For outstanding contribution to the development of the European Future

Community

Nationality
German
Politics
Christian Democratic Union
Denomination
Lutheran
Sports
Fervent football (soccer) fan; cross-country skiing

Education

Secondary school
Extended Secondary School Templin, Germany
University
Leipzig University Leipzig, Federal Republic of Germany Doctorate Physics 19731978
Post-Graduate
Central Institute for Physical Chemistry of the Berlin Academy of Sciences Berlin-Aldershof, East Germany Doctorate Quantum chemistry 19781986
Publications
Untersuchung des Mechanismus von Zerfallsreaktionen mit einfachem Bindungsbruch und Berechnung ihrer Geschwindigkeitskonstanten auf der Grundlage quantenchemischer und statistischer Methoden (Investigation of the mechanism of decay reactions with single b Publisher: Berlin: Academy of Sciences of the German Democratic Republic 1986
Native language
German
Other languages
Russian

Honorary Degrees

2013
University of Szeged Szeged, Hungary Doctorate (Honoris Causa)
2013
Radboud University Nijmegen Nijmegen, Kingdom of the Netherlands Doctorate
2010
Universitatea Babeş-Bolyai Cluj-Napoca, Romania Doctor Honoris Causa
2008
Wroclaw University of Technology Wrocław, Republic of Poland Doctor Honoris Causa
2008
Leipzig University Leipzig, Federal Republic of Germany Doctorate
2007
Hebrew University of Jerusalem Jerusalem and Rehovot, Israel Doctorate

Family

Vital statistics

Birth information
July 17, 1954
Gender
Female
Place of birth
Hamburg, Federal Republic of Germany
Marital status
Married

Marriage

1998–present
Joachim Sauer   2 children Daniel Sauer (stepson) Adrian Sauer (stepson)
19771982
Ulrich Merkel         

Parents

Father
Horst KASNER (1926-2011)
Mother
Herlind (Jentzsch) Kasner

Grandparents

Father's father
 Ludwig Marian Kaźmierczak (1896–1959)--(adopted name Kasner in 1930)
Father's mother
Margarethe (Drange) Kaźmierczak
Mother's father
Willi JENTZSCH (1886-1936)
Mother's mother
Gertrud Alma (Drange) Jentzsch

Ancestry

German and Polish