The book “Freedom” is referred to as a defense of her decisions during her time as prime minister and as the EU’s most powerful politician. Merkel does not seem to have any particular doubts about the decisions she made.
Among the issues she had to deal with were the financial crisis in 2008, the debt crisis in Europe, the flow of refugees in 2015 and 2016, Brexit, Trump’s first presidential term and the corona pandemic – to name a few.
The book is, in line with her character and appearance, a sober and fact-oriented summary of her upbringing and political career.
The relationship with Putin
Her prime ministership outlasted four US presidents, four French presidents and five British prime ministers. But perhaps more than any other individual, her international political career is marked by her relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
She reflects on the power plays and moves he took to oust his political opponents. Among other things, she was kept on hold during a G8 meeting in 2007, which Merkel believes he did on purpose.
– If there is one thing I cannot stand, it is a lack of punctuality, she writes in the book.
Furthermore, her fear of dogs is brought up. During a photo shoot in Sochi that same year, Putin’s labrador came running into a photo shoot despite Putin knowing she was afraid of dogs.
According to Merkel, Putin enjoyed the situation. She herself said nothing.
Defends Russia relations
Furthermore, she describes Putin as “someone who is always on guard against being treated badly and ready to act at any moment, including power plays with a dog and making others wait for him”.
She defends that she maintained both diplomatic relations and trade relations with Russia despite the invasion of the Crimean peninsula in 2014 and other undemocratic tendencies.
– You can perceive this as childish and rude, you can shake your head, but it will not lead to Russia disappearing from the map, she writes.
Brexit
The closest she comes to doubt in the book is whether Brexit could have been avoided.
She refers to the fact that Brexit became a reality as a humiliation for the other EU countries. The question of whether she could do more to accommodate Britain in the negotiations was like torture for her, she describes.
But the conclusion is that there was little she could do.
– I concluded that in light of the political development in the country at the time, there would have been no acceptable opportunity for me from the outside to prevent the UK from leaving the EU, she writes.
Merkel came to power in Germany and resigned in 2021 after four terms.
The book was written together with Beate Baumann, who has been an adviser to Merkel for a long time.
Immigration
Merkel does not take any blame or responsibility for the global uncertainty seen today, three or four years after she resigned. Major wars are going on in Ukraine and the Middle East at the same time that Donald Trump is on his way back to the White House – and the government in her home country seems to be collapsing.
Critics accuse her of allowing uncontrolled immigration to Germany, which has further led to the rise of the far-right AfD.
She herself points out that immigration is absolutely necessary to provide labor in the future.
Merkel warns German parties against adopting radical rhetoric without coming up with concrete solutions to existing problems.
– Germany and the rest of Europe will always be a tempting target for people from outside as a result of prosperity and the rule of law, she writes.
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