As Angela Merkel celebrates her 70th birthday, reflections on her tenure as Chancellor emerge with a mix of criticism and praise. Former Health Minister Jens Spahn offers a balanced assessment, criticizing aspects of her refugee policy, relations with Russia, and the nuclear energy phase-out, while acknowledging her reforms and economic successes.
Merkel's era saw stability in the pension system, the introduction of a retirement age of 67, successful management of the financial crisis, increased research funding, and reduced youth unemployment. However, Spahn points out three significant mistakes during her leadership: irregular migration since 2015, handling of Putin's Russia, and the nuclear phase-out.
SPD leader Saskia Esken praises Merkel's exceptional empathy and compromise skills, highlighting similarities in their paths to party leadership. Merkel's centrist competence and strategic positioning are credited with strengthening Germany and Europe, despite the mix of opinions on her legacy.
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