Editing Angela Merkel (section)

==== 2002–2005: Leader of the Opposition ====
After Stoiber's defeat in 2002, in addition to her role as CDU Leader, Merkel became Leader of the Opposition in the [[Bundestag]], as had been agreed upon between her and Stoiber. Friedrich Merz, who had held the post prior to the 2002 election, was eased out to make way for Merkel.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/opposition-meltdown-the-great-disintegration-act-a-324300.html|title=Opposition meltdown: The great disintegration act|work=Der Spiegel|date=22 October 2004|access-date=28 November 2015|archive-date=10 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010140141/http://www.spiegel.de/international/opposition-meltdown-the-great-disintegration-act-a-324300.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Merkel supported a substantial [[Agenda 2010|reform agenda]] for Germany's economic and social system and was considered more pro-market than her own party (the CDU). She advocated [[German labour law]] changes, specifically removing barriers to laying off employees and increasing the allowed number of work hours in a week. She argued that existing laws made the country less competitive, because companies could not easily control labour costs when business was slow.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/0,1518,249207,00.html |title=Merkel fordert längere Arbeitszeit |language=de |newspaper=[[Der Spiegel]] |date=18 May 2003 |access-date=27 August 2011 |archive-date=13 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080613150234/http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/0%2C1518%2C249207%2C00.html |url-status = live}}</ref>

Merkel argued that Germany should phase out [[nuclear power]] less quickly than the Schröder administration had planned.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NP_Merkel_Nuclear_phase_out_is_wrong_1006081.html|title=Merkel: Nuclear phase-out is wrong|newspaper=[[World Nuclear News]]|date=10 June 2008|access-date=27 August 2011|archive-date=16 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616040957/http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NP_Merkel_Nuclear_phase_out_is_wrong_1006081.html|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-nuclear-phaseout-explained/a-39171204 |date=15 June 2017 |first=Rebecca |last=Staudenmaier |title=Germany's nuclear phase-out explained |work=DW |access-date=27 July 2019 |archive-date=24 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200824011914/https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-nuclear-phaseout-explained/a-39171204 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Merkel advocated a strong transatlantic partnership and German-American friendship. In the spring of 2003, defying strong public opposition, Merkel came out in favour of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, describing it as "unavoidable".<ref name="dw.com-2016" /> She also criticised the government's support for the [[accession of Turkey to the European Union]], instead arguing in favour of a "[[European Union Association Agreement|privileged partnership]]".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Merkel Calls For Petition Against Turkish Membership |url=https://www.dw.com/en/merkel-calls-for-petition-against-turkish-membership/a-1356052 |access-date=26 June 2023 |website=dw.com |archive-date=27 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160127013235/https://www.dw.com/en/merkel-calls-for-petition-against-turkish-membership/a-1356052 |url-status=live}}</ref>