Reflecting on the years of Greece’s financial crisis, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel recalled her experiences and interactions with Greek leaders during a recent interview on SKAI. She expressed disappointment over some Greek newspapers linking her to Nazism during the time of the controversial referendum in 2015.
‘Politics isn’t something you do for enjoyment,’ Merkel stated. ‘What mattered was that I was convinced Greece could make it.’ She also admitted that she was troubled by the fact that certain social groups bore more of the burden than others, but emphasized that these were decisions for Greek politicians — not ones she could interfere with.
Discussing her first meeting with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, Merkel said she was initially concerned due to his earlier criticism of the Troika. ‘I waited for him outside my office where left-wing demonstrators had gathered, and he went to speak with them before coming to meet me,’ she described.
Despite initial tensions, she noted that their conversations were honest. ‘We didn’t lie to each other — we spoke with sincerity.’
Merkel remained unapologetic about her actions concerning Greece, reiterating that she believed her approach was correct. ‘No, I wouldn’t apologize because I believed change was necessary, and I couldn’t alter Greek politics from the outside — that had to come internally.’
She concluded by expressing appreciation for those who endured hardship to keep Greece within the Eurozone, calling it a service to Europe. ‘We stayed united during a difficult situation, and for that, I want to thank everyone and say that I was fully aware of what many people were going through.’