Angela Dorothea Merkel Biography

Birth of Angela Dorothea Merkel

Merkel is educated in Templin and at the University of Leipzig, where she studied physics from 1973 to 1978

Studies at the Central Institute for Physical Chemistry of the Academy of Sciences from 1978 to 1990

Merkel gets involved in the growing democracy movement after the fall of the Berlin Wall, joining the new party Demokratischer Aufbruch

Following the first (and only) democratic election of the East German state, Merkel becomes the deputy spokesperson of the new pre-unification caretaker Government under Lothar de Maiziare

Merkels party the Demokratischer Aufbruch merges with the west German CDU and she becomes Minister for Women and Youth in Helmut Kohls cabinet

Merkels party the Demokratischer Aufbruch merges with the west German CDU and she becomes Minister for Women and Youth in Helmut Kohls cabinet

At the first post-reunification general election Merkel is elected to the Bundestag from a constituency which includes the districts of Nordvorpommern and Regen, as well as the city of Stralsund

Appointed Minister for the Environment and Reactor Safety

The Kohl Government was defeated in the general election, Merkel is named Secretary General of the CDU

The Kohl Government was defeated in the general election, Merkel is named Secretary General of the CDU

Merkel oversees a string of Christian Democrat election victories in six out of seven regional elections in 1999 alone, breaking the SPD-Green coalitions hold on the Bundesrat, the legislative body representing the states

Appointed Chairwoman of the Christian Democratic Union

Appointed Chairwoman of the CDU-CSU Parliamentary party group from 2002 to 2005

defying strong public opposition, Merkel comes out in favour of the US invasion of Iraq, describing it as "unavoidable" and accusing Chancellor Gerhard Schroder of anti-Americanism

defying strong public opposition, Merkel comes out in favour of the US invasion of Iraq, describing it as "unavoidable" and accusing Chancellor Gerhard Schroder of anti-Americanism

After three weeks of negotiations between the CDU/CSU and SPD, the two parties reached a deal whereby Merkel would become Chancellor and the SPD would hold 8 of the 16 seats in the cabinet

Leads a Grand coalition with the sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), and with the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), formed after the federal election

Merkel wins the CDU/CSU nomination as challenger to Chancellor Gerhard Schroder of the SPD in the 2005 national elections

Merkels CDU/CSU and Schr”ders SPD went head-to-head in the national elections, with the CDU/CSU winning 35.3% (CDU 27.8%/CSU 7.5%) of the second votes to the SPDs 34.2%

Merkel is elected Chancellor by the majority of delegates (397 to 217) in the newly assembled Bundestag

Angela Merkel becomes the first female Chancellor of Germany after working out a power-sharing agreement with outgoing Chancellor Gerhard Schroders Social Democratic Party

The coalition deal is approved by both CDU/CSU and SPD parties at party conferences. Merkel is elected Chancellor by the majority of delegates (397 to 217) in the newly assembled Bundestag

Merkels first foreign trMerkel travels to Paris for a meeting with the French president, Jacques Chirac, In his speech, Chirac emphasized the importance of the Franco-German Companionship for Europe

Many economic commentators have referred to the Merkel factor, which has apparently caused a rapid rise in consumer confidence and market spending

In early 2006, polls showed that Angela Merkel, having been in office for only about 100 days, had the highest approval rate among Germans ever to be recorded for a Chancellor since 1949

Awarded the Vision for Europe Award for her contribution toward greater European EU integration

Receives the Visions for Europe Award for contributions to European integration and discusses future European governance.

Awarded an honorary doctorate from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Plays a central role in the negotiation of the Treaty of Lisbon and the Berlin Declaration

Appointed President of the European Council

Chairs the G8

Leads the German EU Presidency as the Berlin Declaration sets a political timetable for renewed treaty reform.

The European Council of heads of states or Governments met in Brussels to agree upon the foundation of a new treaty to replace the rejected Constitution. The meeting took place under the German Presidency of the EU, with Chancellor Angela Merkel leading the negotiations as President-in-Office of the European Council

Leads the European Council under the German Presidency as negotiations begin on a mandate for a new reform treaty.

The European Council of heads of states or Governments met in Brussels to agree upon the foundation of a new treaty to replace the rejected Constitution. The meeting took place under the German Presidency of the EU, with Chancellor Angela Merkel leading the negotiations as President-in-Office of the European Council

The Treaty of Lisbon makes the Unions human rights charter, the Charter of Fundamental Rights, legally binding

The Treaty of Lisbon makes the Unions human rights charter, the Charter of Fundamental Rights, legally binding

Amends the Treaty on European Union (TEU, Maastricht; 1992) and the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC, Rome; 1957), renamed to Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU)

Changes include more qualified majority voting in the Council of Minister's & increased involvement of the European Parliament in the legislative process through extended codecision with the Council of Minister's.

Signed by the European Union (EU) member states, and enters into force on 1 December 2009. Plays a central role in the negotiation of the Treaty of Lisbon and the Berlin Declaration.

The Treaty of Lisbon makes the Unions human rights charter, the Charter of Fundamental Rights, legally binding.

The aim of the Treaty is "to complete the process started by the Treaty of Amsterdam [1997] and by the Treaty of Nice [2001] with a view to enhancing the efficiency and democratic legitimacy of the EU and to improving the coherence of its action".

Signs the Treaty of Lisbon for Germany alongside Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany

Merkel receives the Charlemagne Prize "for her work to reform the European Union"

Heads the government as the Bundestag approves legislation accompanying German ratification of the Lisbon Treaty.

Welcomes a judgment allowing Lisbon ratification once German legislation strengthens parliamentary participation in European affairs.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel re-elected to 2nd term at head of new, centre-right coalition

German Chancellor Angela Merkel re-elected to 2nd term at head of new, centre-right coalition

Germany marks Twentieth anniversary of fall of Berlin Wall with spectacular ceremony attended by European leaders

Germany marks Twentieth anniversary of fall of Berlin Wall with spectacular ceremony attended by European leaders

Heads the German government when the Treaty of Lisbon enters into force across the European Union.