Ranking CDU Chancellors of Germany

1. Konrad Adenauer (deserves a lot of credit for restoring Germany's international reputation after World War II, strong leadership qualities and Western orientation. Latter is the reason I would have voted CDU until after 1957. Like many CDU politicians, Adenauer also missed the right moment in time to step down before he was essentially pushed out after 14 years in office and at age 87.)

2. Helmut Kohl (deserves credit for reunifaction, which seemed impossible just a few short years before. However, he stayed in power too long and was tained in a campaign finance scandal, which surfaced after his landslide defeat in the 1998 election. Without a doubt, Kohl was definitely a skillful politician and kind of an interesting personality.)

3. Angela Merkel (meh, most of the accomplishments during her tenure were mainly the work of the SPD as coalition partner over three terms. However, I credit Merkel for raising Germany's international reputation and her personal integrity.)

4. Kurt Georg Kiesinger (actually an underrated chancellor. His past as NSDAP member was controversial, although he wasn't a convinced Nazi. As chancellor, he oversaw the implementation of several important reforms and an economic recovery. Leading the first grand coalition with several high-profile ministers, Kiesinger proved to be skillful leader who brought vastly different egos together to get big stuff done. Unfortunately his term of less than three years wasn't long enough for a having a larger impact. He's definitely an FF in my books.)

5. Ludwig Erhard (was great as Minister for Economics, but a failure as chancellor with weak leadership skills.)

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