Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany
Daughter of Horst KASNER (1926-2011) and Herlind (Jentzsch) Kasner, whose name at birth was Angela Dorothea KASNER, was born July 17, 1954 in Hamburg, Federal Republic of Germany.
Chancellor of the Federal Republic of GermanyBerlin, Federal Republic of Germany
Christian Democratic Union of Germany
2000–present
Chairwoman Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany
European Council
2007
President of the European Council (semiannual rotating Presidency)Bruxelles, Kingdom of Belgium
German Bundestag (Parliament)
2002–2005
Chairwoman CDU/CSU parliamentary group
Christian Democratic Union of Germany
1998–2000
General Secretary Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany
Christian Democratic Union of Germany
1993–2000
ChairwomanMecklenburg-Western Pomerania
Cabinet of Germany
1994–1998
Federal Minister of the Environment Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety / Bonn, Federal Republic of Germany
Cabinet of Germany
1991–1994
Federal Minister for Women and Youth Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth / Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany
12th Bundestag (Parliament)
1990–1991
MemberConstituency of Stralsund – Nordvorpommern – Rügen / District of Vorpommern-Rügen
Academy of Sciences
1978–1990
Research Associate Central Institute for Physical Chemistry, Berlin-Adlershof / Federal Republic of Germany
Professional affiliations
2000–present
Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU)Berlin, Federal Republic of GermanyPresident
1990–present
Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU)Berlin, Federal Republic of GermanyMember
1991–1998
Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU)Berlin, Federal Republic of GermanyDeputy Chairwoman
1989–1990
"Demokratischer Aufbruch" (Democratic Awakening)Berlin, Federal Republic of GermanyMember and spokeswoman
Accomplishments of note
2005
First female Chancellor of Germany and one of the architects of the European UnionBerlin, Federal Republic of Germany
Professional honors and awards
2014
President's Medal - Medal of DistinctionPresident of the State of Israel Shimon PeresFor outstanding contribution to the State of Israel or to humanity
2013
Indira Gandhi Peace PrizeRepublic of IndiaIn recognition of creative efforts toward promoting international peace, development and a new international economic order
2011
Global Leadership Award (AICGS)American Institute for Contemporary German Studies, Johns Hopkins University / Washington, District of Columbia USAIn recognition of her outstanding dedication to strengthening German-American relations
List of The World's Most Powerful People - 2013-ranked 5th; 2012-ranked 2ndForbes Magazine
2011
Jawaharlal Nehru Award for the Year 2009Government of the Republic of IndiaFor international understanding
2011
Presidential Medal of FreedomPresident of the United States Barack ObamaFor especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors
2010
Named "The World's 50 Most Influential Figures"New Statesman
2008
Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of GermanyPresident of Federal Republic of Germany
2008
International Charlemagne Prize of the City of AachenSociety for the Conferring of the International Charlemagne Prize of AachenFor distinguished service on behalf of European unification
Ranked 1 on List of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women - Years: 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2009, 2008, 2007 and 2006Forbes Magazine
2008
Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian RepublicItalian Republic
2006
Edmond Israel Foundation Vision for Europe AwardH.E. Jean-Claude Juncker, Prime Minister of LuxembourgFor outstanding contribution to the development of the European Future
Community
Nationality
German
Politics
Christian Democratic Union
Denomination
Lutheran
Sports
Fervent football (soccer) fan; cross-country skiing
Education
Secondary school
Extended Secondary School Templin, Germany
University
Leipzig University Leipzig, Federal Republic of Germany DoctoratePhysics1973–1978
Post-Graduate
Central Institute for Physical Chemistry of the Berlin Academy of SciencesBerlin-Aldershof, East GermanyDoctorateQuantum chemistry1978–1986
Publications
Untersuchung des Mechanismus von Zerfallsreaktionen mit einfachem Bindungsbruch und Berechnung ihrer Geschwindigkeitskonstanten auf der Grundlage quantenchemischer und statistischer Methoden (Investigation of the mechanism of decay reactions with single b
Publisher: Berlin: Academy of Sciences of the German Democratic Republic1986
Native language
German
Other languages
Russian
Honorary Degrees
2013
University of SzegedSzeged, HungaryDoctorate (Honoris Causa)
2013
Radboud University NijmegenNijmegen, Kingdom of the NetherlandsDoctorate
2010
Universitatea Babeş-Bolyai Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaDoctor Honoris Causa
2008
Wroclaw University of TechnologyWrocław, Republic of PolandDoctor Honoris Causa
2008
Leipzig University Leipzig, Federal Republic of GermanyDoctorate
2007
Hebrew University of JerusalemJerusalem and Rehovot, IsraelDoctorate
Family
Vital statistics
Birth information
July 17, 1954
Gender
Female
Place of birth
Hamburg, Federal Republic of Germany
Marital status
Married
Marriage
1998–present
Joachim Sauer 2 children Daniel Sauer (stepson)Adrian Sauer (stepson)
1977–1982
Ulrich Merkel
Parents
Father
Horst KASNER (1926-2011)
Mother
Herlind (Jentzsch) Kasner
Grandparents
Father's father
Ludwig Marian Kaźmierczak (1896–1959)--(adopted name Kasner in 1930)