Born in Hamburg, Angela Merkel grew up in a rural part of East Germany, took a degree in physics from the University of Leipzig, and then worked as an academic and researcher in Berlin. Her doctorate is in quantum chemistry.
In 1990, she entered the first re-unified Bundestag as a conservative Christian Democrat. She rose quickly, becoming Minister for Women & Youth, then for the Environment & Reactor Safety. In 1998, with her party out of government, she became Secretary-General of her party and then Leader in 2000. In 2005, she became both Germany's first woman Chancellor and, at the age of 51, one of the youngest. Since then, she has made a name for herself in foreign affairs, repairing the relationship with the USA and brokering negotiations in the Middle East, but lhas been ess successful at home, where the nature of coalition politics have prevented her from carrying out her party's policies to the full.
Besides herself, 6 of her cabinet are women – 43.8% in all. Women hold Cabinet posts as the ministers in charge of: Economic Cooperation and Development; Justice; Food Agriculture and Consumer Protection; Family Affairs; Senior Citizens; Women and Youth; Health; and Education.
In an article which provides an interesting overview of her career and achievements the Independent recently asked 'How has Angela Merkel become the key player on Europe's political stage?' (although it has to be said that some of the comments about her dress sense would not be made about male leaders!)