HAS BEING GRIM AND HUMORLESS EVER BEEN A NEGATIVE FOR A GERMAN LEADER?:

Merkel's 'small steps' bring giant leap in popularity (Tony Paterson, 22/01/2006, Daily Telegraph)

Angela Merkel, Germany's Chancellor, has confounded her critics by emerging as the country's most popular leader for more than a decade - only two months after being elected.

Dismissed only six months ago as a humourless and dowdy East German, Mrs Merkel is riding a wave of unprecedented public approval that last week placed her at the top of Germany's key opinion poll rating for politicians.

The monthly survey conducted by the ZDF television channel found voters rated the 52-year-old conservative Chancellor as Germany's most likeable politician, and the politician who has achieved most since the change of government in November. The last chancellor to enjoy such popularity was Helmut Kohl, who won huge public approval for his role in securing Germany's reunification 16 years ago.