In just over two weeks' time, Germany goes to the polls, but for the first time in almost

two decades, Angela Merkel's name will not be on the ballot.

German is darling, muddy, the mother of the country.

They're all dwarves, apart from muddy, that's the German word for mum, that is her favourite

nickname.

Merkel later, a ruthless colossus, who not only dominates every room, but also the global

arena.

Angela Merkel is no ordinary head of government.

She is the queen of Europe.

After 16 years at the heart of global politics, what do we know about the woman the Germans

call muddy, the mother of the nation, and who for many over the last few years came to

be seen as the new leader of the free world?

I think there's quite a cuddly image of her among certainly liberal strands of opinion

in Britain, and a sense that she is the kind of decent antithesis to the populist politics.

We've seen in parts of the last few years in Britain and certainly in America.

You're listening to stories of our times, from the times and the Sunday times.

I'm Manvin Rana, today, life after muddy, how Angela Merkel shaped Germany and the world.

On most days in the political season, Berliners can watch the same scene unfolding.

The Chancellor, Angela Merkel, commuting to work.

So the axis of political power in modern Germany is a very underwhelming, large, open plan

square, near the river spray, in central Berlin.

It's all of a moody, Berlin correspondent for the times and the Sunday times, and long

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