PhotoEspecially after the global financial meltdown in 2008, Ms. Merkel grew into a leadership role as the weight in Europe shifted. Ms. Merkel delayed, but finally made the controversial choice, against the advice of her powerful finance minister, Wolfgang Schäuble, to keep Greece inside the common euro currency. “She prevented the euro from collapsing and probably the entire European Union from breaking apart,” Mr. Kornelius said. “If she thinks about legacy, it’s to finally get the eurozone right,” Mr. Kornelius said. “It all sounds dull, but she likes that — dullness is her middle name,” Mr. Kornelius said.

Source: New York Times September 24, 2017 21:33 UTC