Chancellor Angela Merkel managed to answer the questions put by 16 participants at the readers’ forum in Stralsund (in the north-eastern state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania). She promised to take the other questions home with her, and answer them in writing. Angela Merkel had an answer for everything, even when the questions reached far into the future, including her personal future.

Refugee policy

"Rescuing people in distress at sea is a humanitarian imperative," said Angela Merkel. Through Operation Sophia the Bundeswehr has been supporting Libya’s coastguard. Not all of the people who come across the Mediterranean are the weakest and the poorest, she said. "Our goal must be to talk to the African states, to find out where we can help and how we can help – but not to support the business model of smugglers and human traffickers." The current situation is far from satisfactory, she said, but "We are part of this world. We can only live well if others live well too."

Dealing with fake news

Angela Merkel is concerned by the blurring of the distinction between facts and emotions. Facts can easily be taken from statistics, for instance, to verify matters. That is not possible with emotions. "I am concerned to see that today emotions are often put before facts."

Greta Thunberg

"An exceptional girl who has triggered a lot. I take her very seriously."

What can we do to stop global warming?

"I was Environment Minister from 1994 to 1998. We negotiated the Kyoto Protocol in Berlin, but a lot of countries failed to ratify it. In 2015 came the Paris Agreement. Now the USA has left the Agreement again." Germany must be a trailblazer, because otherwise it will not be able to convince other countries to fight global warming.

"We should consider how to see our entire life as cycle – as forest owners, for instance, do." The people "who come after us" should also have something. That can give us a good feeling, said Angela Merkel, because we have "thought of others". Modern technologies can help.

The cost of carbon dioxide emissions

"We will need to put a price on CO2 emissions. I support it. Certificates allow us to better manage the system." Today there is already a de facto price on CO2 emissions though, through the taxes on fuel and oil for oil-fired central heating.

The Chancellor’s health and private retreats

"If I decide to go into politics I must accept that I will be a public figure." She quite understood why people were concerned about her, but she revealed that she has her own private retreats where she is free to be sad or happy. In her experience her privacy is accepted and respected.

Here in the North in particular, her political home, she said good and also confidential discussions can be held, also with her staff – where not every word she says immediately has "a market value".

Nursing care

"We are endeavouring to make nursing professions more attractive: there are no more fees for trainee nurses, general and geriatric nursing training are to be combined, and efforts are being made to ensure that remuneration is in line with collective bargaining agreements." And, young people must be convinced that the nursing is a very fulfilling profession.

Angela Merkel was unaware of the scale of the problems in the delivery of intensive care at home, described by the director of a local nursing care services provider. The single largest problem facing intensive care is that it is under-financed. "I will take that information with me and 'feed it into' discussions and action in the political arena tomorrow morning, pledged Angela Merkel.

Fisheries

Reminded of a photo from her first electoral campaign in 1990, showing her sitting in a shed with fishermen from Lobbe on the Island of Rügen, Angela Merkel reported that she was still in touch with the fishermen and was aware of the problems they face: restrictions on nets, cormorants, a lack of marketing chains for coastal fishers. Most regulations are imposed at European level by the European Union, she explained. She would have liked to achieve more here, but she pointed out that Federal Agriculture Minister Julia Klöckner has managed to reach an agreement with the EU that small-scale coastal fishers will still be allowed to catch cod, in spite of the ban on cod fishing that is to come into force in 2020.

Barrier-free affordable housing for people with disabilities

"We must integrate it better in overall urban planning."

The Chancellor’s future, her love of animals and her perfect day

"30 years in politics are a long time, and a big part of my life." She does not intend to hold any political offices as of 2021, said Angela Merkel. She revealed that she enjoys observing animals, especially in their natural habitat: hares, deer and birds – "Cranes are magnificent birds," she declared. But she also finds toads and bats interesting, because they are indicative of an intact environment.

The perfect day – cannot be planned for a start. "I always have to be at the end of a phone, always available. I can’t just say, "I’m having my perfect day. Call back tomorrow." But, if she gets the chance she likes a lie-in, a relaxed breakfast, the chance to get out into the fresh air and in the evening a chat with her husband or friends, a visit to the opera or theatre, or the opportunity to read a good book.

What would Angela Merkel like to read about herself in history books?

"She did her best." Laughter ripples round the room.

The Ozeaneum’s female Humboldt penguin Alexandra was also happy to see the Chancellor. Angela Merkel has ‘adopted’ her. "She not really looking her best at the moment. She’s moulting," the Chancellor reported.