The book of the former German Chancellor “Freedom” is causing quite a stir – even at the beginning of the parliamentary election campaign. Angela Merkel published her autobiography of about 730 pages
Great interest as rarely for a German political book. Former Chancellor Angela Merkel’s book titled “Freedom. Memories 1954-2021” is conquering not only the German book market, but also that of about 30 Western and non-Western countries such as China. The book with the memoirs of former Chancellor Merkel has about 730 pages and covers the years 1954-2021, from her childhood and youth in the former German Democratic Republic, German reunification, to her political career in the Federal Republic of Germany until the end of her 16-year term as Chancellor in the fall of 2021. The book is also published as an audiobook. The 70-year-old Merkel will also tour major European cities to present her book.
On December 2, Merkel will present her book in Washington in the presence of former US President Barack Obama.
From some excerpts already published from the book in several German media outlets as well as from some interviews she has given Former Chancellor Merkel is understood to have addressed current and controversial political issues in her memoirs. She talks, for example, about her experience with US President Donald Trump (2017-2021), the dominance of men in German politics, the acceptance of refugees in Germany, which has sparked and continues to spark major debates in Germany, her policy towards Russia and Ukraine, and her view of Vladimir Putin.
MERKEL, PUTIN AND HIS DOG KONI
Photos of Angela Merkel, Vladimir Putin and his Labrador retriever, Koni, became famous around the world. Because when the German Chancellor was visiting the Russian President in Sochi in 2007, Putin allowed his dog to approach the Chancellor, even though he knew that Angela Merkel had a phobia of dogs. Referring to this meeting in her book, Merkel describes Putin as “someone who is always alert for any sign that someone is not respecting him, but who on the other hand is always ready to disrespect others, such as playing tug-of-war with the dog or making everyone wait for him.”
DOUBLE-DIGIT FEE IN MILLIONS
As is usual with such books, it is not publicly known what fee the former chancellor will receive. Several media outlets in Germany have speculated in recent days about this fee. The newspaper “Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger” wrote, without citing concrete sources, that it is an “extraordinary double-digit sum in the millions”. While the newspaper “Tagesspiegel” mentioned a sum of 12 million euros. No one doubts that former chancellor Merkel will make a fortune from this money.
During an interview for the magazine “Spiegel”, when asked by journalists what her plans are as a “future multimillionaire”, the former chancellor replied by referring to the powerful foundation of former US President Barack Obama, hinting that she could also establish a foundation. “I can’t do something as big as Obama. “But we’ll see,” she said. A foundation of her own would have the advantage that former Chancellor Merkel would not be dependent now or later on the CDU party apparatus or her commitment to foundations, while maintaining independence in her political legacy. (DW)
