**Commentary** The following information will be presented neutrally as opposed to specifying whether each point is a pro or a con, since this can be debated. - Merkel is popular- she is Germany's longest-serving postwar leader, and has been re-elected by the German people 3 times. - She served as the Leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) from 2000-2018, and the chancellor from 2005-2021. - In 2014 she became the longest-serving incumbent head of government in the European Union. - Merkel is the first female chancellor of Germany. - She is a centre-right politician. - She made Germany more powerful - Merkel has been frequently referred to as the de facto leader of the European Union and the [most powerful woman in the world](https://time.com/time-person-of-the-year-2015-angela-merkel/). - She was the TIME Person of the Year in 2015 for her - She is considered honest - when approached by personnel of the Ministry for State Security (Stasi) to become an informant, she refused. - Merkel opened the doors of Germany to over [1 million](https://time.com/time-person-of-the-year-2015-angela-merkel/) asylum seekers and refugees during the height of the European migrant crisis. - This lead to a rise in [anti-immigration protests](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-33700624). - Merkel played a crucial role in managing the global financial crisis of 2007–2008 and the European debt crisis. - Germany is now the [richest country in Europe](https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/richest-european-countries). - Her post-war efforts included avoiding conflict for over [16 years](https://spectator.clingendael.org/en/publication/merkel-legacy-avoiding-conflict-16-years). - Her party (CDU) has lost a considerable amount of votes in the election after she stepped down as the party leader and chancellor.