No euro, no Europe, she has been quoted as saying

As a former East German the need/desire/obsession of Angela Merkel for a united Europe is immense

The freedom many of us have long taken for granted is a driving force for others

But at what cost and/or for what ultimate aim?

Here the respected journalist and BBC presenter Andrew Marr takes a look at the life of the German Chancellor ahead of tomorrow’s election

Angela Merkel – from shy girl to world leader

The article is based around a tv programme I’ve just watched on a rare Saturday night in. Definitely worth a look on BBC Iplayer when it comes up

Like I said yesterday, I don’t claim to be a student of German politics and don’t hold any allegiance, but I’m old enough to understand how important her rise to power has been.