Angela Merkel
Bundespresseamt
The head of the German government is called the chancellor. He or she is elected by the lower house of parliament (the
Bundestag) and decides on general government policy. A term in office normally lasts four years. Anyone who is of age can be elected as chancellor. The chancellor chooses ministers to join him or her in the government team. They are then formally appointed by the German president. Since November 2005, Angela Merkel has been the German chancellor. She is the first woman to have held this office in Germany.
Former German chancellors:
| Konrad Adenauer (CDU) | 1949-1963 |
| Ludwig Erhard (CDU) | 1963-1966 |
| Kurt Georg Kiesinger (CDU) | 1966-1969 |
| Willy Brandt (SPD) | 1969-1974 |
| Helmut Schmidt (SPD) | 1974-1982 |
| Helmut Kohl (CDU) | 1982-1998 |
| Gerhard Schröder (SPD) | 1998-2005 |
| Angela Merkel (CDU) | since 2005 |
Gerd Schneider/ Christiane Toyka-Seid
