Memories: “I could unpack now” – Merkel presents her memoirs

In the middle of it all, she becomes a little self-critical: Angela Merkel doesn’t want to accept Anne Will’s accusation that she only admits to minor mistakes in her memoirs and not the major misjudgments. “Am I doing you injustice?” asks the moderator. “I think so,” replies the former Chancellor. And admits that, for example, she failed to provide the right answers to climate change. That the Bundeswehr did not receive the necessary resources during her term in office. And that digitalization has not progressed as desired.

Merkel and Will are sitting opposite each other on the stage of the Deutsches Theater in Berlin in dark gray armchairs, each with a small table with a carafe of water next to them. The lights are dimmed, the black theater curtain is in the background, and in front of it is the oversized cover of her memoirs on a blue background of the same color. Because that’s what this evening is about: The former Chancellor and CDU chairwoman presents her autobiography around three years after leaving politics. She wrote the 700-page book entitled “Freedom. Memories 1954 – 2021” together with her long-time confidante Beate Baumann.

No announcement about Taurus deliveries to Ukraine

She was happy to give up on operational politics, says Merkel, who this time chose an ivory tone for the color of her blazer. “Enough was enough.” Anyone who listens to her talk for two hours won’t believe that she is no longer in the Chancellery. She also takes a pointed stance on current political issues and only chickens out in a few places. For example, on the question of whether Germany should supply Ukraine with Taurus cruise missiles. This is part of the operational task of an incumbent Chancellor and she does not want to interfere and comment “from the sidelines”.

Merkel still believes Nord Stream 2 is not a mistake

Otherwise, Merkel says a lot. And she remains true to herself despite the hint of self-criticism. The most striking example: their Ukraine and Russia policies, including the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. “On the one hand, it was about cheap gas, which was good for the German economy. On the other hand, I didn’t want to cut off all economic relations with Russia.”

Merkel cannot see that Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin would not have attacked Ukraine if Nord Stream 2 had not existed. Question from moderator Will: “Does that mean you don’t regret anything?” The former Chancellor’s answer: “Personally, even looking back, I don’t think it was a mistake. I just have to say that.”

Merkel: Grant Merz the candidacy for chancellor

Merkel is almost a little patronizing, but then again critical of her former competitor and current CDU candidate for chancellor, Friedrich Merz. This fulfills an important requirement for the highest government office: “You need this unconditional will to power. Friedrich Merz has it too. And that’s why I begrudge him,” said Merkel when asked whether she would begrudge Merz that he might soon become chancellor become. After the 2002 federal election, the then CDU leader Merkel ousted Merz from the post of Union faction leader, which put a severe strain on their relationship.

However, on the current question of whether there should be rejections of asylum seekers at the German borders, Merkel reiterates her differences with Merz. “It was important to me that we didn’t do that. I also think it’s the wrong approach. But it’s just that he has that opinion, yes.”

You can’t blame her for claiming in her book that she left Germany in tip-top condition, says Merkel. However, she does not want to sign the many accusations of failures during her term in office that have been made to her by members of the traffic light coalition that has just failed. “If it helps, then you should say Merkel did it. I just don’t think that helps the country.”

Merkel also does not want to be held liable for all failures. For example, during her time in office she did not experience the Greens as being fans of reducing bureaucracy. The Greens would have prevented the Balkan states from being described as safe countries of origin for years. “Well, I could unpack now,” says the Chancellor to great applause, but then leaves it at that.

News between the lines

Merkel finds the criticism a bit strange that there is nothing new in her book, which she calls a “jewel.” “Imagine if I were to publish sensational stories about what people would say about me. People would say: She lied to us the whole time, she kept the actual things secret from us. And that’s why I say: Who between I think anyone who reads the lines will notice that there is already this and that new thing in it.”