A look inside the daily life of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, a former chemist who has been Forbes' most powerful woman in the world for 9 straight years and can get by on only 4 hours of sleep
REUTERS/Stefanie Loos
German chancellor Angela Merkel is Forbes' Most Powerful Woman, for the ninth consecutive year.
Since becoming chancellor in 2005, the former chemist has managed to cultivate an "image of deep personal integrity and a tightly guarded private life," writes Melissa Eddy in the New York Times.
The chancellor is a talented chef and her signature dishes include potato soup, beef loaf, and plum cake.
Angela Merkel has been the most powerful woman on Earth for almost a decade, according to Forbes.
The German chancellor took the top spot on Forbes' 100 Most Powerful Women list for the ninth consecutive year. The runners-up included President of the European Central Bank Christine Lagarde, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, President of the European Commission Ursula Von Der Leyen, and General Motors CEO Mary Barra.
Merkel's reign over the ranking may be coming to a close, however. She announced in 2018 that she would not run for another term after the completion of her current one in 2021.
Despite Merkel's power, little is known about her personal life. Since becoming chancellor in 2005, the former chemist has managed to cultivate an "image of deep personal integrity and a tightly guarded private life," writes Melissa Eddy in the New York Times.
However, by piecing together various details, one can come away with a view of the chancellor's daily routine.
Merkel starts every day by having breakfast with her husband Joachim Sauer, she once told ex-Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan.
Steffi Loos / Stringer / Getty Images
Sources: TIME, Der Spiegel
Sauer, a chemistry professor, "presses [Merkel] on political issues like any ordinary citizen would," over breakfast.
Pool/Getty Images
Source: Reuters
Sauer and Merkel are said to enjoy hiking and attending the opera together. Sauer is also extremely frugal, often flying on budget airlines instead of accompanying Merkel in a government jet.
Sean Gallup/Getty Images
Sources: TIME, Der Spiegel, Reuters
While at work, Merkel adopts an almost scientific approach to politics.
Sean Gallup/Getty Images
Sources: Business Insider, BBC
"People often accuse me of not acting fast enough," she said, in a BBC documentary. "That I let things go on too long. For me it's important I deliberate all options ... running through scenarios, and not simply theoretical experiments in my head."
Sean Gallup / Getty Images
Sources: Business Insider, BBC
As a result, Merkel is never one to rush into a decision. "I am, I think, courageous at the decisive moment," she said, according to a 2007 biography. "But I need a good deal of start-up time, and I try to take as much as possible into consideration beforehand."
Andreas Rentz/Getty Images
Source: Angela Merkel
Outside of work, Merkel is a fan of soccer. She befriended the victorious German national team during their journey to winning the World Cup in 2014.
Handout/Getty Images
Sources: The Guardian, TIME
Merkel's favorite food is said to be green cabbage and Mettwurst — or minced pork sausage. She was elected "Cabbage Queen" in Oldenburg in 2001.
Sebastian Widmann / Stringer / Getty Images
Sources: The Telegraph, The Guardian, CafeBabel
The chancellor is a talented chef, although it's unclear if she has much time to cook for herself these days. Some of her signature dishes include potato soup, beef loaf, and plum cake.
Sebastian Widmann / Stringer / Getty Images
Sources: The Telegraph, The Guardian, CafeBabel
Merkel has also retained one food-related habit from her upbringing in shortage-prone East Germany. In an interview with German magazine Superillu, she said, "I still buy something as soon as I see it, even when I don't really need it. "It's a deep-seated habit stemming from the fact that in an economy where things were scarce, you just used to get what you could when you could."
Sean Gallup/Getty Images
Sources: The Guardian, Superillu
The daughter of a Lutheran pastor, Merkel is a practicing Christian and a member of the Evangelical Church in Berlin, Brandenburg and Silesian Upper Lusatia.
Sean Gallup / Getty Imagse
Source: The Economist
It's unclear when Merkel goes to bed, but she has said that she often goes without rest, and can function on only four hours of sleep.
Steffi Loos / Stringer / Getty Images
Sources: BBC, Financial Times, The Local
The German chancellor catches up on sleep on the weekends: "I have camel-like abilities, an ability to save things up — and afterwards I have to fill up again."
Sean Gallup/Getty Images
Sources: BBC, Financial Times, The Local
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