Ursula von der Leyen on Angela Merkel: “I was about to resign”

podcast

“ÜberMerkel” – Episode 2
“I was about to throw in the towel”: Von der Leyen reports on a conflict with Merkel

She was Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Minister of Labor and Minister of Defense – worked for a total of almost 14 years Ursula von der Leyen under former Chancellor Angela Merkel. Von der Leyen moved to Brussels in 2019, has been President of the European Commission since then – and continued to deal with the “eternal chancellor” until she left politics.

Ursula von der Leyen talks about Angela Merkel

The 63-year-old worked closely by her side, if necessary, even for days and nights. In the second episode of star-Podcasts “ÜberMerkel – Vertraute recounting” Ursula von der Leyen lets the listeners look through the keyhole at the negotiation marathons in Brussels. She reveals hostess and starEditor-in-Chief Anna Beeke-Gretemeier, among other things, how “crisis chancellor” Angela Merkel persevered in the meetings, which often lasted several days: “But there are also phases in the morning at 3 or 4 a.m. when you are completely exhausted. Angela Merkel then took a blanket and laid it down around the shoulders.”

“About Merkel – telling stories”

Angela Merkel was Chancellor for 16 years. The first. At the end of 2021 she resigned her post, now there is a man in office. What is left of her? What was she like, the chancellor? How is she as a boss, as a friend, as a feminist? For years, the story of Angela Merkel was mostly told by men. stern– Editor-in-chief Anna-Beeke Gretemeier meets for the podcast “ÜberMerkel – Vertraute recounting” with companions of the former Chancellor – yes, only with women. The conversations show new perspectives and thus draw a very personal audio portrait.

“ÜberMerkel – Familiar stories” appears weekly on Tuesdays at AudioNow, Spotify, iTunes, Amazon Music and everywhere there are podcasts. You can also find all episodes here.

The two also talk about the difficult search for a Merkel successor in the CDU and about a tangible conflict between the top politicians: “I was at the point where I was about to throw in the towel and resign,” says von der Leyen in the podcast.

And the EU Commission President reports on Angela Merkel as a person: What grounds her? How does she deal with the macho demeanor of Donald Trump or Vladimir Putin? What virtues are important to you? And what were the moments with Angela Merkel that Ursula von der Leyen says were “terrific”? You can hear that and more in the new episode of the star-Podcasts “ÜberMerkel – Tell Familiar”.

“ÜberMerkel – Familiar stories” appears weekly on Tuesdays at AudioNow, Spotify, iTunes, Amazon Music and everywhere there are podcasts. You can also find all episodes here.