Angela Merkel

Angela Dorothea Merkel (born July 17, 1954 in Hamburg) is a German politician and the conservative opposition's candidate to become Chancellor of Germany in the German federal election, 2005. "Angie" is another popular nickname for Merkel, used by supporters.

Political views

Merkel supports a substantial reform agenda concerning Germany's economic and social system. Merkel is considered to be more pro-free market (and pro-deregulation) than her own party (the CDU); she has advocated changes to German labour law, specifically, removing barriers to firing employees and increasing the allowed number of work hours in a week, arguing that current laws make the country less competitive because companies cannot easily control labour costs at times when business is slow. http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/0,1518,249207,00.html

Related Topics:
Free market - Deregulation

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Merkel believes there should be a strong transatlantic partnership and German-American friendship. In the spring of 2003, defying strong public opposition, Merkel came out in favor of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, describing it as "unavoidable" and accusing Chancellor Gerhard Schröder of reactionary anti-Americanism. This led some critics to characterize her as an American lackey.

Related Topics:
2003 - U.S. invasion of Iraq - Gerhard Schröder - Reactionary - Anti-Americanism - Lackey

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

She opposes Turkish EU membership and favours a "privileged partnership", instead. In doing so, she is seen as being in unison with an overwhelming majority of Germans who reject Turkish membership in the European Union, particularly due to fears that large waves of immigration may impose an unbearable burden on Germany and that there would be too much Islamist influence within the EU.

Related Topics:
Turkish - EU - Immigration - Islamist

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

She believes that the existing nuclear power stations should be phased out less quickly than advocated by the current government.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~