The first female chancellor of Germany, serving from 2005 to 2021, is Angela Merkel. Merkel, a trained physicist, became a prominent political leader, known for her pragmatic and cautious approach to governance. During her tenure, she played a pivotal role in managing the European financial crisis, the refugee crisis, and navigating global challenges such as climate change. Merkel is often regarded as a stabilizing force in European and world politics, and her leadership has been influential in shaping contemporary German and European policy.