With the German election scheduled for Sunday, Angela Merkel is preparing to leave office after serving for 16 years as the German Chancellor.
Throughout her time in the role, Merkel has been considered the most influential European leader of the 21st century, and a steady defender of democratic values through a turbulent period of history.
In order to bid farewell to the German leader, who has been dubbed at different times the world’s most powerful woman, we’ve collated some memorable photographs of Merkel over her years in the top job.
Merkel leaning over a table towards Donald Trump, flanked by world leaders at G7 summit in 2018
France’s Emmanuel Macron and the former Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe, flank Merkel as she leans towards former US President Donald Trump.
Merkel, the only female leader at the G7 in 2019
Merkel holds a press conference with Donald Trump in 2017 after meeting for the first time
Merkel doing her own shopping in a German supermarket
Always understated, Merkel was well-known for her low key approach to political leadership and was often seen doing her own grocery shopping
Merkel with former UK Prime Minister Theresa May in 2019
During May’s time as Prime Minister, the two leaders were often the only women at meetings with global leaders
Merkel and former US President Barack Obama at the G7 in 2015
Ahead of his final trip to Germany as US president, Obama described Merkel as “probably… my closest international partner these last eight years”
