Dr. (rer. nat.) Angela Merkel (born 17 July 1954) is a German politician (CDU). She was born in Hamburg, and is married to Joachim Sauer. Angela Merkel currently chairs the German conservative party, the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU).

Biography

• 1954 Birth in Hamburg, daughter of a Lutheran pastor
• 1971-1990 Member of the Free German Youth in the German Democratic Republic
• 1973-1978 Studies Physics at the University of Leipzig, Leipzig,Germany
• 1986 Dr. rer. nat. (doctor of science) in physics, University of Leipzig
• 1989 Member of Demokratischer Aufbruch
• 1990 Assistant spokesman of the last government of the German Democratic Republic
• August 1990, CDU membership (Christian Democratic Union of Germany)
• 1990-today Member of the German Parliament, elected from the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
• 1991-1994 Federal Minister for Women and Youth
• 1994-1998 Federal Minister for Environment, Conservation and Nuclear Safety
• 1991-1998 CDU Vice Chairman
• 1993-2000 CDU chairman in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
• 2000-today CDU chairman

Angela Merkel's political career was supported by the former Chancellor of Germany, Helmut Kohl. As head of the CDU, she is currently heading the opposition in the Bundestag. Many see her as a possible challenger to Chancellor Gerhard Schröder of the SPD in the 2006 national elections.

Voting District

Angela Merkel's voting district for the Federal Parliament, the Bundestag, includes the counties of Nordvorpommern and Rügen, as well as the city of Stralsund. Her home state is Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

External links

• Photo of Angela Merkel
• Christian Democratic Party
• Angela Merkel Homepage