Merkel

Hello, today I want to focus on two books from which I managed to read excerpts and found quite interesting. The first is the memoir of Merkel, including everything she says about us—Greece. During her tenure, we went back and forth—figuratively and literally—within and outside of Europe, and endured the hardships of the bailout programs. I read the Greek excerpts with great attention.

It has been 50 years since the founding declaration of New Democracy on October 4, 1974. The declaration was signed solely by Konstantinos Karamanlis, just two and a half months after his return to Greece, following 11 years of self-imposed “exile” in Paris. Thus, the party was established, which, along with PASOK, became the two main pillars of the post-dictatorial Greek Republic.

After 16 years in power, Merkel resigned as chancellor. Here is what world leaders have to say about it, synthesized by Deutsche Welle

Barack Obama: "I was lucky to be her friend"

According to a document from the Office obtained by Bloomberg, Merkel recommends that people who have not been fully vaccinated be banned from going to restaurants, cinemas and shops that are not necessary.
She also calls for mandatory vaccinations against COVID-19 starting in February 2022.

Merkel is in Athens

She said the weakest moment in the fight against the pandemic was the poor protection of nursing homes last winter.
At that time, at least 30.000 people died from coronavirus infection.

This point "recommends" the way of reporting on the EU to the countries of the Western Balkans. However, Sputnik's interlocutors call this "recommendation" of the EU an instrument of discipline.

Berlin-based analysts and policymakers expect to see a shift in Germany's - and therefore the EU's - approach to the Western Balkans with the end of the Merkel era.

Vui thanked Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed for visiting the Serbian pavilion.
"Yesterday we had 3.000 visits, Serbia was presented in a good way, through digital technologies," he pointed out.
President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vui, announced new drugs in the fight against coronavirus.

An SPD-led government in Germany has significant potential to sharpen international attention to the problems of corruption in Bulgaria. This could create big issues for former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and his GERB party (EPP), which is trying to find ways to return to power.