Advancing Vladimir Putin, the American movement of African-American Defense Black Lives Matter and even Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State, came in second, Angela Merkel became the tenth woman to receive this distinction from the creation of prices in 1927. Before her, Elizabeth II, Wallis Simpson (official cause of the abdication of her husband Edward VIII) or Corazon Aquino (first woman president of the Philippines), had managed to win in this ranking still too masculine.
First woman honored for 29 years, the German Chancellor was honored as an "indispensable actress European issues" and its ability to cope with various crises that have affected the continent: Greek bankruptcy and the influx of migrants . "She asked for more for his country than most politicians have dared because she stood against tyranny and opportunism and because it brought a strong moral leadership in a world where is scarce, " says Time.
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1 / She dreamed of becoming a figure skater
Angela Merkel was born in Hamburg in 1954, but grew up in East Germany in the small town of Templin (north of Berlin), where his father exercises the job of minister. The country was at that time a major sports power and the girl, fascinated by the agility and elegance of figure skaters, dream of becoming one.
2 / The Stasi tried to recruit her as a spy
brilliant Lycéenne Angela Merkel participated in the Olympiads of mathematics that met the brains of the Eastern bloc, prior to studying physics. It also speaks Russian, the language of the friendly country. The young scientist sees when approached by the Stasi, the secret police of East Germany, which wants to enlist to spy on his colleagues at the university, reports La Croix. "At home with my parents, we had prepared a strategy in case this situation could. I had only to say that I did not hold my tongue, I talked about everything with my friends," a- she confided later.
3 / It was evening sauna of the Wall
Angela Merkel, then aged 35, missed the opening of the Berlin Wall on Nov. 9, 1989 as she was relaxing in the sauna, reminds TheDispatch. "I went to the sauna as every Thursday night with a friend and when I came out, the border crossing at Bornholmer Strasse's (one of the first open on the evening of November 9) was open, and then I rose from the other side ", she told in a TV show. In West Berlin, the physicist mingled with the crowd that has just reached the wall: "I found myself in an apartment with strangers and offered us a can of beer."
4 / Helmut Kohl, her mentor, called "Lassie"
In 1990, Merkel was spotted by the Chancellor "reunification" Helmut Kohl nicknamed " the kid." It was in his shadow it will climb the ladder of politics. Appointed head of the Department of Women and Youth and the Ministry of Environment, it will succeed to prevail within the Christian Democratic Party, CDU as she is an atypical candidate for this party very attached to traditions. It's a woman, she is Protestant and after East Germany.
5 / It became the first Chancellor of Germany
in 2005, aged 51, Angela Merkel became the first woman chancellor but also the youngest person to hold this position. She is also the first woman to govern a major European country since Margaret Thatcher. In 2009, then in 2013, Angela Merkel is widely re-elected to head the country.
6 / It is derided for its looks grim
Accustomed trouser suit, Merkel gives the impression of wearing a single model, very classic, in dozens of colors different. His compatriot, the fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld, has not hesitated to criticize in an interview for its lack of elegance, advising him to bring "better cut trousers" and "open jackets over blouses." In 2008 the Chancellor had attempted a daring dress, by wearing an evening gown and a plunging neckline during an evening at the opera in Oslo. A choice noticed by the German press, which did not fail to comment on the event.
7 / Her husband is dubbed the "Phantom of the Opera"
German Chancellor appreciates the scientists. In 1977, she married a physician, Ulrich Merkel met on the benches of the university and that it will keep the name after their divorce in 1982. She remarried in 1998 with Joachim Sauer, an internationally recognized chemist and university professor Humboldt in Berlin. The couple cultivates discretion. Joachim Sauer appears alongside Angela Merkel rarely, especially on the occasion of classical music festival. It was enough for the German press nicknamed the "Phantomof the Opera." Libération even recalls that Nicolas Sarkozy had called in error "Mr. Merkel" in a speech in his presence ... Oops.
8 / Her personality is very loved by Germans ...
"If it please the Germans so much, it is because it does its job quietly, apparently without any narcissism and it annoys or disturbs citizens" explains the daily Die Welt. Germans do not mind the nickname the "Mutti" (Mum), as it reassures them in the crises in Europe. Finally, the daily Berliner Morgenpost of himself has dubbed the "sweetheart of Germany."
9 / ... but sometimes disparaged in Europe
— C.Erdmann / Berlin (@carsten_erdmann) September 22, 2013
href="http://www.lesoir.be/324183/article/actualite/monde/2013-09-23/portrait-angela-merkel-reine-aimee-des-allemands-decriee-en-europe" rel="nofollow" style="color: #916728; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">not enjoy the same popularity. Author of Angela Merkel a German (almost) like the others,Florence Autret explains that the Chancellor is the most hated woman in Southern Europe. His opponents are engaged in "Merkel Bashing" and nicknamed "the new Iron Lady" or "Teflon Merkel" for his defense of austerity policies and wear resistance of power.
10 / His hands have become famous
since she was Chancellor Angela Merkel adopts the pictures, very often the same gesture with his hands. The ends of both thumbs are joined up, when the rest of his fingers converge downwardly so as to form a diamond. The German press has long been perplexed by this posture ... these supporters, themselves, wanted to interpret it as a symbol of power, says Le Parisien. At the point of view the hands of Angela Merkel XXL (70 meters by 20 meters), on the seat of his party, the CDU, in the heart of Berlin. A poster that is accompanied by the following caption: "The future of Germany in good hands."
