The Chancellor: The Remarkable Odyssey of Angela Merkel

Chapter 16 details Angela Merkel's challenges during her fourth term as chancellor. In the 2017 election, Merkel’s CDU party saw a significant drop in support, falling from 41.5% to 33%, which was the worst performance of the party since World War II. Despite this setback, Merkel managed, after six months of negotiation, to form a coalition government with the Christian Social Union (CSU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD).

The AfD, with its anti-immigrant and nationalist rhetoric, emerged as a major force, becoming the 3rd-largest party in the parliament. This marked the first significant far-right presence in German politics since 1945. Merkel’s region, East Germany, due to social and economic grievances, showed strong support for the AfD, accounting for nearly 20% of the vote. Merkel initially attempted to downplay the AfD’s rise, maintaining her policy approach and avoiding direct confrontation. However, she ultimately failed to address the concerns of disgruntled voters, especially in the East, where economic disparities and a sense of neglect persisted.

Marton discusses the lingering resentment over unification felt in East Germany, where the population felt left behind and unable to compete with a dominant West. Merkel, often perceived as out-of-touch with the problems of people in the East, faced criticism for her handling of refugee policies, which many East Germans saw as prioritizing newcomers over their own needs.