Editing Angela Merkel (section)

===1990–1994: Minister for Women and Youth===

==== Elections ====
In the [[1990 German federal election|German federal election of 1990]], the first to be held following reunification, Merkel successfully stood for election to the [[Bundestag]] in the parliamentary constituency of [[Stralsund&nbsp;– Nordvorpommern&nbsp;– Rügen (electoral district)|Stralsund – Nordvorpommern – Rügen]] in North [[Mecklenburg-Vorpommern]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.focus.de/regional/mecklenburg-vorpommern/kommunen-merkel-im-landkreis-vorpommern-ruegen-erwartet_id_6455183.html|agency=dpa|title=Merkel wirbt für gute Finanzausstattung der Kommunen|date=6 January 2010|work=Focus Online|access-date=29 April 2017|language=de|archive-date=9 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109094717/http://www.focus.de/regional/mecklenburg-vorpommern/kommunen-merkel-im-landkreis-vorpommern-ruegen-erwartet_id_6455183.html|url-status=live}}</ref> She received the crucial backing of influential CDU minister and state party chairman [[Günther Krause]]. She was re-elected from this constituency (renamed, with slightly adjusted borders, [[Vorpommern-Rügen – Vorpommern-Greifswald I]] in 2003) in every election until the CDU lost its [[Direktmandat|direct mandate]] from the constituency in the [[2021 German federal election|2021 federal election]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=27 September 2021 |title=Merkel gewann acht Mal in Folge das Direktmandat in ihrem Wahlkreis – jetzt siegte eine junge SPD-Politikerin |url=https://www.stern.de/politik/deutschland/cdu-verliert-direktmandat-in-merkels-bisherigem-wahlkreis-an-spd-politikerin-30777532.html |access-date=21 June 2023 |website=stern.de |language=de |archive-date=6 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206203902/https://www.stern.de/politik/deutschland/cdu-verliert-direktmandat-in-merkels-bisherigem-wahlkreis-an-spd-politikerin-30777532.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Almost immediately following her entry into parliament, Merkel was appointed by [[Chancellor of Germany|Chancellor]] [[Helmut Kohl]] to serve as [[Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth|Minister for Women and Youth]] in the [[Cabinet of Germany|federal cabinet]].

In November 1991, Merkel, with the support of the federal CDU, ran for the state leadership of the CDU in the state of Brandenburg, which neighbours Berlin. She lost to [[Ulf Fink]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Brandenburg: Merkels Union der Probleme |language=de-DE |work=Der Tagesspiegel Online |url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/potsdam/brandenburg/merkels-union-der-probleme-7386607.html |access-date=5 June 2023 |issn=1865-2263 |archive-date=5 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605115239/https://www.tagesspiegel.de/potsdam/brandenburg/merkels-union-der-probleme-7386607.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In June 1993, Merkel was elected leader of the CDU in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, succeeding her former mentor [[Günther Krause]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mecklenburg-Vorpommern – Geschichte der CDU |url=https://www.kas.de/en/web/geschichte-der-cdu/mecklenburg-vorpommern |access-date=5 June 2023 |website=Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung |language=en |archive-date=5 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605115238/https://www.kas.de/en/web/geschichte-der-cdu/mecklenburg-vorpommern |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Policy ====
Although Merkel had little interest in the political position as such, it has been described as instrumental in building her early political image.<ref name="Vick-2015">{{Cite magazine|url=https://time.com/time-person-of-the-year-2015-angela-merkel/|title=Time Person of the Year 2015: Angela Merkel|last=Vick|first=Karl|year=2015|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=30 April 2017|archive-date=29 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190529051902/http://time.com/time-person-of-the-year-2015-angela-merkel/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Packer-2014">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/12/01/quiet-german|title=The Astonishing Rise of Angela Merkel|last=Packer|first=George|date=1 December 2014|magazine=The New Yorker|access-date=30 April 2017|archive-date=9 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209073023/http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/12/01/quiet-german|url-status=live}}</ref> During her tenure, the government codified the right to [[Kindergarten|preschool education]], although the law only went into effect in 1996.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=2018 |title=Zur Rechtsprechung in Bezug auf Kindertagesbetreuung nach § 24 SGB VIII |trans-title=On the jurisprudence of childcare pursuant to § 24 SGB VIII |url=https://www.bundestag.de/resource/blob/569574/caa1dd6c9010844748c3739925c8c2ac/WD-9-055-18-pdf-data.pdf |journal=Wissenschaftliche Dienste (Deutscher Bundestag) |language=de |page=10 |archive-date=27 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127121033/https://www.bundestag.de/resource/blob/569574/caa1dd6c9010844748c3739925c8c2ac/WD-9-055-18-pdf-data.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> In June 1992, § 218 of the [[Strafgesetzbuch|StGB]], which governed abortion rights, was rewritten to allow abortions until the 12th week of pregnancy.<ref name="Bildung-2023">{{Cite web |date=24 May 2023 |title=Vor 30 Jahren: Reform für Schwangerschaftsabbrüche gekippt |url=https://www.bpb.de/kurz-knapp/hintergrund-aktuell/521296/vor-30-jahren-reform-fuer-schwangerschaftsabbrueche-gekippt/ |access-date=23 June 2023 |website=bpb.de |language=de |archive-date=25 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230525004054/https://www.bpb.de/kurz-knapp/hintergrund-aktuell/521296/vor-30-jahren-reform-fuer-schwangerschaftsabbrueche-gekippt/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Though she was personally opposed to abortion at the time, Merkel abstained during the vote on the bill.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Angela Merkel |url=https://www.fembio.org/biographie.php/frau/biographie/angela-merkel/ |access-date=23 June 2023 |website=www.fembio.org |language=de |archive-date=27 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241227073933/https://www.fembio.org/biographie.php/frau/biographie/angela-merkel/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The law was later overturned by the [[Federal Constitutional Court]] on the basis that there must be a general prohibition of abortion.<ref name="Bildung-2023" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bundesgesetzblatt BGBl. Online-Archiv 1949 – 2022 |url=https://www.bgbl.de/xaver/bgbl/start.xav?start=//*%5B@attr_id=%27bgbl193s0820.pdf%27%5D#__bgbl__//*%5B@attr_id=%27bgbl193s0820.pdf%27%5D__1687518539514 |access-date=23 June 2023 |website=www.bgbl.de |language=de |archive-date=25 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230525023106/https://www.bgbl.de/xaver/bgbl/start.xav?start=//*%5B@attr_id=%27bgbl193s0820.pdf%27%5D#__bgbl__//*%5B@attr_id=%27bgbl193s0820.pdf%27%5D__1687518539514 |url-status=live}}</ref>