Angela Merkel's exit from the stage is sparking fears of a hole at the heart of the European Union during challenging times -- but there are also hopes for a wind of change.
Tributes have been growing for the German leader -- dubbed"Queen of Europe" by some observers after 16 years as chancellor -- ahead of elections this weekend to choose a successor.
"She can always put things in the context of the many years in Europe she helped to shape," von der Leyen said. He said she had shown"continuity and firmness", qualities that have made her the pre-eminent leader in Europe. She then drew widespread popular ire in Greece for the swingeing conditions imposed on Athens under a bailout.Former European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker hailed Merkel for opening Germany's borders during the 2015 migrant crisis and helping craft a 750 billion-euro rescue plan from the pandemic."It is the German narrative that would like to present it as if she had been at the origin of all the solutions to these serious crises," Juncker said.
She argued that this has"often benefited those who break the rules", such as right-wing Hungarian leader Viktor Orban, accused of dragging his country away from European values.
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