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Germany’s first female chancellor, Angela Merkel, is standing down after 16 years in office. This matters because a major figure is exiting the global stage. She has worked with four US presidents and been at the centre of European and global politics. As Germans head to the polls, Ros Atkins looks at the race to succeed one of Europe’s most influential leaders. (Photo: Election campaign billboards showing Annalena Baerbock, chancellor candidate of the German Greens Party, Olaf Scholz, chancellor candidate of the German Social Democrats (SPD), and Armin Laschet, chancellor candidate of the Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU), Credit: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)