Angela Merkel’s memoir, “Freedom”, was presented in Budapest on Wednesday evening. The former chancellor, who led Germany for 16 years, also spoke about how she was able to succeed as a woman in national and international politics, and revealed that she likes to test people.
Angela Merkel’s memoir, Freedom, was presented by Animus Books, and the discussion was led by Rebeka Bánszegi, a journalist for 24.hu. The former German chancellor was responsible for governing Germany for sixteen years, shaping German, European, and international politics with her actions and opinions. In her memoirs, she looks back on her life, which she spent in two German states: in the GDR until 1990 and in reunified Germany since 1990.
“When you are federal chancellor for 16 years, you provide plenty of material. Many people wrote about me, saying ‘I don’t understand why she acted that way’, ‘why did she do that’, ‘what was her motivation’. Obviously, I couldn’t deal with that during my time in office. But when I left office, I also thought about what my intentions were, what drove me, and how I see things from my own perspective. I didn’t want others to interpret me. Not out of fear. I simply felt the need for people to understand why I did what I did,” Angela Merkel said at the book launch event in Budapest.
In Freedom, Angela Merkel writes about her daily life as chancellor, as well as the dramatic days and nights when she had to make important decisions in Berlin, Brussels, and elsewhere. She describes the long process of change in international cooperation and reveals the pressure politicians are under as they seek solutions to complex problems in today’s globalized world. She takes us behind the scenes of international politics and shows us the importance of personal conversation and where the boundaries lie.
In her memoir, Angela Merkel sheds light on the circumstances of political action in an era of increasing confrontation. Her recollections offer a unique insight into the inner workings of the government and are also an important statement in favor of freedom.
The full transcript of the book launch discussion can be found at the following link: https://24.hu/kulfold/2025/10/02/angela-merkel-interju-szabadsag/
Further information about the book: https://www.hellokonyvek.hu/szabadsag-visszaemlekezesek-1954-2021-angela-merkel
Photographer: Animus Könyvek/ Fóthi Levente
