German economy sees Merkel popularity soar

German chancellor Angela Merkel is heading to Asia this weekend, buoyed by her standing at home floating to sky-high levels with unprecedented poll ratings, strong economic growth and the first government budget surplus since the country’s 1990 reunification.

Wrapping up a two-day meeting with members of the right-left coalition of her own Christian Democrats and the Social Democrats, Germany’s first female leader highlighted the same issues that helped win her overwhelming popularity at home and abroad in her first 21 months on the job.