Toughest term - Merkel faces challenges

Angela Merkel is nothing if not resolute.

Germany’s “mutti” (or Mum) is the longest-serving consecutive European leader, having been in the job since 2005 when her centre-right CDU/CSU party formed a grand coalition with the social democratic party, the SPD. This was followed by a win in 2009 and a coalition with the liberal FPD, and another win in 2013 along with another grand coalition.