As of: November 27, 2024 3:02 a.m
“I could unpack now,” says former Chancellor Merkel when presenting her memoirs. But she doesn’t. There are no sensations in her book – and her self-criticism remains sparse.
This is how we know them: black trousers, four-button blazer, Merkel diamond. This is how the Federal Chancellor a. D. her book in the German Theater in Berlin. Anne Will asks questions, Merkel answers.
Anyone expecting a critical, political interview will be largely disappointed. Just like those who thought that the physicist was also a philosopher. Or those looking for sensational revelations.
“Imagine if I were to publish sensational stories,” says Merkel. “One would say: She lied to us the whole time.” So there are no sensations, not in the book and not in the theater.
Sparse self-criticism
Did she make mistakes? Anne Will wants to know. Multiple times. And Merkel says no. Mistake? Not in Ukraine policy, not in refugee policy. Merkel defends her decisions back then and still reacts today to the fact that she was misquoted or not understood back in 2015 when she let the refugees into the country.
She practices sparse self-criticism elsewhere. When it comes to climate policy, Merkel says she has done too little. And also with digitalization and with the train, which she rarely takes. So yes, when it came to modernizing the country, she could have done more. And if it helps, then you should say: “Merkel did it.”
But does it help? Merkel says: no. And then she also hands out a little – against the others, against the SPD, which she, as the coalition partner at the time, holds responsible for the ailing Bundeswehr. And against the Greens because they voted against their asylum policy in the Federal Council when it came to safe countries of origin.
Merkel calls her book a “jewel”
“I could unpack now,” she says to the audience’s laughter. “But I’ll pack up quickly. It’s no use.” It’s being unpacked and repacked so quickly that nothing sensational new is revealed that evening.
Merkel remains Merkel, especially true to herself. She is clearly at peace with herself, satisfied and also proud of her book, which she calls a “jewel”.
There are 740 pages in which she describes her political experience in great detail. It’s about her life in the GDR, about her rapid rise in politics, about the CDU of course and in the theater briefly about Friedrich Merz. As is well known, she doesn’t have a close friendship with him, but now he could become Chancellor. Anne asks Will whether she begrudges him that. “Yes,” says Merkel. A “no” at this point would probably be unthinkable.
Merkel answers questions and reads passages from her book for two hours. She has left the breathlessness of politics behind her. But the citizen Angela Merkel will of course remain political. But “enough was enough” – after 16 years as chancellor.
