Angela Merkel took office as Germany’s eighth post-Second World War leader and its first female chancellor, heading an unwieldy alliance with the tough job of turning around Europe’s biggest economy after years of stagnation and six months of political turmoil.

ANGELA MERKEL took power yesterday as Germany’s eighth post-Second World War leader and its first female chancellor, heading an unwieldy alliance with the tough job of turning around Europe’s biggest economy after years of stagnation and six months of political turmoil.

Angela Merkel took power today as Germany’s eighth post-Second World War leader and its first female chancellor, heading an unwieldy alliance with the tough job of turning around Europe’s biggest economy after years of stagnation and six months of political turmoil.

ANGELA MERKEL, set to become Germany’s first female chancellor, campaigned on promises to shake up Germany’s welfare state and the worker protections that have helped choke economic growth.