Merkel, who led Germany from 2005 to 2021, will tonight receive the special class Grand Cross from German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
This award has been given only twice before – to former German chancellors Konrad Adenauer and Helmut Kohl.
Merkel was very popular while in the German Chancellor’s chair, but after leaving big politics, she has drawn criticism for the policies implemented during her time, in particular, for her relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Germany’s dependence on Russian energy resources.
Merkel has also been criticized for the decision to abandon nuclear energy in 2011 and the acceptance of hundreds of thousands of refugees from Syria and Iraq in 2015.
The former chancellor had “great merit, especially at the international level,” but she also made mistakes, some of which were glaring, Christian Social Union (CSU) vice-chairman Karsten Linnemann told NTV.
The decision to abandon nuclear power after the Fukushima nuclear disaster was a mistake because it was made without determining how Germany would provide itself with energy resources in a reasonably self-sufficient way, Linnemann admitted.
However, Merkel, who has been writing her memoirs since leaving big politics, has also continued to receive praise, including from the political rivals of the Christian Democrats (CDU), the Social Democrats (SPD) and the Greens.
“I especially value her diplomatic skill and empathetic wisdom, thanks to which she has always managed to build viable coalitions and compromises on the national and international scale,” said SPD co-chair Saskia Esken.
On the other hand, the co-chairman of the Greens, Omid Nuripurs, admitted that Merkel played a very important role in the formation of Germany.
“You don’t have to agree with everything she did to recognize her great merits,” emphasized Nuripour.
