For sixteen years, Angela Merkel was Chancellor of Germany, and at the forefront of European and international politics. In her memoirs, she looks back on her life in two German states - in East Germany until 1990, and in reunified Germany thereafter. How did she, coming from the East, rise to the top of her party, the CDU, to become the first woman to hold the office of chancellor ? And how did she then become one of the most powerful heads of government in the Western world ? What guided her ? In "Freedom", Angela Merkel recounts daily life in the chancellor's office as well as the dramatic days and nights when she made far-reaching decisions in Berlin, Brussels and beyond.
She traces the long lines of change in international cooperation, and reveals the pressure politicians face when seeking solutions to complex problems in a globalized world. Here, she takes us behind the scenes of international politics, demonstrating both the importance of personal conversations and, crucially, their limits. Reflecting on politics in a time of increasing confrontation and division, Angela Merkel's memoirs offer a unique insight into the inner workings of power - and are a determined and timely plea for freedom.