Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel She said in her forthcoming memoir that she sought advice Pop Francis on dealings with former US presidents Donald Trump Regarding the Paris Climate Agreement.
Merkel saw Trump’s business background as a challenge, saying, “He saw everything from the perspective of the property developer he was before entering politics. Each parcel of land can only be sold once, and if it’s not found, someone else does.” That’s how he saw the world.”
When Merkel asked the pope for advice on handling individuals with “fundamentally different views,” she thought he understood she was referring to Trump and the climate accord. According to Merkel, the pope advised, “Bend, bend, bend, but make sure it doesn’t break.”
Memoirs, “Freedom: Memories 1954-2021“, detailing Merkel’s experiences with various world leaders, including Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. It is scheduled to be released on November 26 in more than 30 countries.
Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel will release her memoir, “Freedom: Memories 1954-2021” on November 26th. The book will be available in more than 30 countries and will detail Merkel’s political career, including her relationship with former US President Barack Obama and her interactions with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Merkel, who led Germany for 16 years, received international recognition for her handling of the eurozone debt crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia’s early 2014 invasion of Ukraine. Some even called her the “leader of the free world” in contrast to then US President Donald Trump.
However, the memoir comes as Merkel faces scrutiny for her government’s reliance on Russian energy, which critics argue paved the way for Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and Germany’s current economic struggles.
In the memoir, Merkel reveals her insights into Putin’s character, describing him as someone who “didn’t want to be disrespected, was always ready to kill.” She described a conversation where Putin, discussing Ukraine’s possible NATO membership, told her: “You won’t always be chancellor and then they’ll join NATO…and I want to stop that.”
Merkel implied that Putin had timed the 2022 offensive with his departure from office, highlighting his strategic approach. She also criticized some Central and Eastern European leaders for wanting Russia to simply disappear, saying: “They think the country should disappear, cease to exist. I can’t blame them… But Russia, heavily nuclear-armed , he did. exist.”
Merkel will present her memoirs in the US on November 26th at an event with former President Barack Obama.
