‘Most powerful woman’ steps down after 18 years

MERKEL URGES PARTY TO ENSURE IT IS WELL-EQUIPPED, MOTIVATED AND UNITED TO FACE CHALLENGES

Angela Merkel received rapturous applause from her Christian Democrats yesterday, after delivering an emotional speech marking the end of 18 years as party leader in which she said she had been honoured to serve them.

Merkel, 64, fought back tears as Christian Democratic Union (CDU) delegates gave her a 10-minute standing ovation accompanied by cheers and cries of “Danke Angie”. Delegates held posters stating: “Thanks

boss, for 18 years of leadership”.

Admitting she had sometimes been an “infuriating” leader, “driving some to distraction with my last-minute decision-making” — a reference

to her controversial decision to open Germany’s borders to hundreds of thousands of refugees — Merkel said it was now time for the CDU to “embark on a new chapter”.

She urged the party to ensure it was “well-equipped, motivated and united” to face the tough challenges of the future.

Merkel topped the recent list of Forbes ranking of the 100 most powerful women in the world for the eighth year running. Merkel has been widely described as the de facto leader of the European Union.

She welcomed more than one million refugees since late summer of 2015.

Merkel, meanwhile, has been chosen to give Harvard University’s commencement speech on May 30.