Editing Angela Merkel (section)

==== COVID-19 pandemic ====
{{Main|COVID-19 pandemic in Germany|German government response to the COVID-19 pandemic}}
[[File:Mateusz Morawiecki at the June 2021 EC Meeting (3).jpg|thumb|Merkel with UN Secretary-General [[António Guterres]] and Polish Prime Minister [[Mateusz Morawiecki]] in Brussels, 24 June 2021]]
In the initial phases of the pandemic, Germany established a crisis team to manage Germany's containment policy and pandemic response.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How Germany is preparing for COVID-19 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-how-germany-is-preparing-for-a-possible-pandemic/a-52557646 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221216234357/https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-how-germany-is-preparing-for-a-possible-pandemic/a-52557646 |archive-date=16 December 2022 |access-date=3 June 2023 |website=dw.com |language=en}}</ref> In late February 2020, referring to this crisis team, Merkel recommended an approach characterised by moderation and an avoidance of extreme or universal measures ({{Lang|de|Maß und Mitte}}).<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 February 2020 |title=Coronavirus: Bundesregierung legt Krisen-Leitlinien fest – Merkel für Vorgehen mit "Maß und Mitte" – WELT |url=https://www.welt.de/vermischtes/article206221797/Coronavirus-Bundesregierung-legt-Krisen-Leitlinien-fest-Merkel-fuer-Vorgehen-mit-Mass-und-Mitte.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200312213859/https://www.welt.de/vermischtes/article206221797/Coronavirus-Bundesregierung-legt-Krisen-Leitlinien-fest-Merkel-fuer-Vorgehen-mit-Mass-und-Mitte.html |archive-date=12 March 2020 |access-date=3 June 2023 |website=DIE WELT |language=de}}</ref>

On 18 March 2020, Merkel gave a widely publicised speech on the COVID-19 pandemic, comparing its challenges to the [[Second World War]]:<ref>{{Cite web |title=An address to the nation by Federal Chancellor Merkel |url=https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/themen/coronavirus/statement-chancellor-1732296 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603190447/https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/themen/coronavirus/statement-chancellor-1732296 |archive-date=3 June 2023 |access-date=3 June 2023 |website=Bundesregierung |language=de}}</ref>

{{Blockquote|text=Please also take this seriously. Since German reunification, no, since the Second World War, there has not been a challenge for our country in which action in a spirit of solidarity on our part was so important.|author=Angela Merkel}}

The speech was well-received both nationally and internationally, receiving widespread attention and an award for "speech of the year".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Merkel COVID address honored as 'Speech of the Year' |url=https://www.dw.com/en/germany-angela-merkels-coronavirus-address-honored-as-speech-of-the-year/a-55984728 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410092103/https://www.dw.com/en/germany-angela-merkels-coronavirus-address-honored-as-speech-of-the-year/a-55984728 |archive-date=10 April 2023 |access-date=3 June 2023 |website=dw.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=18 March 2020 |title=Angela Merkel: Coronavirus is Germany's biggest postwar challenge |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/angela-merkel-coronavirus-is-germany-biggest-postwar-challenge/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407211030/https://www.politico.eu/article/angela-merkel-coronavirus-is-germany-biggest-postwar-challenge/ |archive-date=7 April 2023 |access-date=3 June 2023 |website=POLITICO|first=Joshua|last=Posaner |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Dempsey |first=Judy |date=24 March 2020 |title=Why Merkel's Coronavirus Address Matters |work=[[Carnegie Europe]] |url=https://carnegieeurope.eu/2020/03/24/why-merkel-s-coronavirus-address-matters-pub-81357 |url-status=live |access-date=3 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521090642/https://carnegieeurope.eu/2020/03/24/why-merkel-s-coronavirus-address-matters-pub-81357 |archive-date=21 May 2023}}</ref>

On 6 April 2020, Merkel stated: "In my view ... the European Union is facing the biggest test since its foundation and member states must show greater solidarity so that the bloc can emerge stronger from the economic crisis unleashed by the pandemic".<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Markus Wacket |author2=Andreas Rinke |date=6 April 2020 |title=Coronavirus pandemic is historical test for EU, Merkel says |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-germany-idUSKBN21O17F |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201215133917/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-germany-idUSKBN21O17F |archive-date=15 December 2020 |access-date=12 November 2020 |work=Reuters}}</ref> Merkel has won international plaudits for her handling of the pandemic in Germany.<ref>{{cite web |last=Oltermann |first=Philip |date=16 April 2020 |title=Angela Merkel draws on science background in Covid-19 explainer: German chancellor excels in describing epidemiological basis of lockdown exit strategy |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/16/angela-merkel-draws-on-science-background-in-covid-19-explainer-lockdown-exit |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421061253/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/16/angela-merkel-draws-on-science-background-in-covid-19-explainer-lockdown-exit |archive-date=21 April 2020 |access-date=21 April 2020 |work=The Guardian}}</ref><ref name="covid19-atlantic" />

Later that month, Merkel was praised for her accessible explanation of the [[basic reproduction number]], which had been an important metric in the German government's pandemic response.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bhalla |first=Jag |date=17 April 2020 |title=This viral Angela Merkel clip explains the risks of loosening social distancing too fast |url=https://www.vox.com/2020/4/17/21225916/coronavirus-in-germany-angela-merkel-lifting-lockdown |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603195519/https://www.vox.com/2020/4/17/21225916/coronavirus-in-germany-angela-merkel-lifting-lockdown |archive-date=3 June 2023 |access-date=3 June 2023 |website=Vox |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Oltermann |first=Philip |date=16 April 2020 |title=Angela Merkel draws on science background in Covid-19 explainer |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/16/angela-merkel-draws-on-science-background-in-covid-19-explainer-lockdown-exit |url-status=live |access-date=3 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421061253/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/16/angela-merkel-draws-on-science-background-in-covid-19-explainer-lockdown-exit |archive-date=21 April 2020 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=16 April 2020 |title=Angela Merkel gave one of the clearest explanations of how coronavirus transmission works |url=https://qz.com/1839030/angela-merkel-explains-how-coronavirus-transmission-works |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603195518/https://qz.com/1839030/angela-merkel-explains-how-coronavirus-transmission-works |archive-date=3 June 2023 |access-date=3 June 2023 |website=Quartz |language=en}}</ref> Merkel opposed [[Vaccination policy|mandatory vaccinations]], instead stressing scientific literacy and education.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Merkel stresses COVID vaccine is key, but voluntary |url=https://www.dw.com/en/covid-angela-merkel-says-no-plans-for-mandatory-vaccines-in-germany/a-58250471 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407211030/https://www.dw.com/en/covid-angela-merkel-says-no-plans-for-mandatory-vaccines-in-germany/a-58250471 |archive-date=7 April 2023 |access-date=3 June 2023 |website=dw.com |language=en}}</ref>

During the German presidency of the [[European Council]], Merkel spearheaded negotiations for the [[Next Generation EU|Next Generation EU reconstruction package]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 February 2021 |title=Next Generation EU, Merkel's latest trick: good for Europe |url=https://aspeniaonline.it/next-generation-eu-merkels-latest-trick-good-for-europe/ |access-date=29 June 2023 |website=Aspenia Online |language=en-US}}</ref>