Merkel's popularity endures more than four years after leaving office

More than four years after leaving office, Angela Merkel has largely stayed out of politics while making limited public appearances. Her recent return coincides with a period of internal crisis for the conservative-social democratic coalition government and heightened tensions with the United States over the war with Iran. She resurfaced first through an interview calling for calm, and then at the re:publica conference on society and technology in Berlin. Her presence is seen as deliberate rather than coincidental, reflecting concern for the state of the party and the republic. She cannot impose change, but her influence remains strong. She continues to enjoy high approval ratings, especially among young people, and received a European Parliament honor for advancing the European Union as chancellor.

"More than four years have passed since Angela Merkel said goodbye to politics in December 2021 after 16 years leading Germany. A period in which, as she promised, she has stayed out of politics except for the book tour for her memoirs and a few public appearances. She vanished so completely from the political scene that her presence last February at the federal congress of her party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) the first time she had attended since leaving office eclipsed the chancellor, Friedrich Merz, with whom she also does not have a good relationship."

"Three months after that appearance in which she did not even speak she has resurfaced again, just as the conservativesocial democratic coalition government is grappling with a deep internal crisis over its reform package and facing intense tensions with the United States over the war with Iran. First, last week, in an interview with the magazine Focus in which she called for calm. Then, this Monday, as part of the re:publica conferences on society and technology, held in Berlin."

"Nothing is coincidental with Merkel, says Hajo Funke, a political scientist and professor at the Free University of Berlin. She worries about the state of the party and the republic, so she expresses that concern, and it carries weight, he explains by phone. She has no operational power; that is, she can't impose change. But she is still a strong voice. In his view, the former chancellor has been present the whole time and is simply now speaking more forcefully."

"Merkel, who this Tuesday was awarded the European Order of Merit of the European Parliament for her steady and fundamental leadership in advancing the European Union as chancellor of Germany, as praised by former European Commission president Jose Manuel Durao Barroso, continues to enjoy high approval ratings. Especially among young people. Good reputation, Merkel joked"

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