The Washington Post has been one the few major US newspapers that has been covering the German election. In this article they attempt to solve the enigma of Angela Merkel.
Although Merkel’s party leads in the polls, for many Germans she remains a remote figure. The former physicist rarely talks about her personal life, her upbringing under communism or how she became involved in politics. She often appears dour and uncomfortable. On her latest campaign poster, she looks like she’s clenching her teeth as she forces a grin.
The reporter followed Merkel to a campaign stop in her home town of Templin. The event sheds some light on the muted interest by east Germans in their native daughter:
On Sunday, she visited her home town of Templin for the first time during the campaign. About 600 people, including her mother, heard her speak outside a beer garden. Rather than wax nostalgic, Merkel merely acknowledged that the region "is what you call home" and recited her standard speech.
Such detachment has alienated many eastern Germans, who had hoped she would stand up for a region some westerners view as backward. In Templin, for instance, there are no visible reminders that the hometown girl is running for chancellor, aside from a few stock campaign posters. "If you walk through Templin and ask ordinary citizens, they don’t want her to be chancellor," said Ulrich Schoeneich, the Templin mayor, a Social Democrat who is friends with Merkel’s mother. "In part, she has forgotten where she came from."
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I am very optimistic and hopeful that “Angie” will emerge victorious in this election. Germany is a wonderful country, and deserves much better than Schroeder has given her.
As for my own country, I would very much like to see Germany and the U.S. mend fences and revive their friendship – I believe that Ms. Merkel is just the one to do that.