Germany's Merkel to release memoirs in 2024

Former German chancellor Angela Merkel, who was in power for 16 years, plans to release her political memoirs in autumn 2024, her publisher announced on Thursday, reported dpa.

The memoirs, written together with her long-time political advisor Beate Baumann, would provide an exclusive, personal insight into Merkel's political life and work, publishers Kiepenheuer & Witsch said.

In a statement released by the publishing house, Merkel wrote: "I am looking forward to reflecting on central decisions and key points of my political career in my book, written together with Beate Baumann, and to make them understandable to a broad public, also with reference to my personal history."

Merkel, now 68, did not stand for re-election to the Bundestag last September. Her conservative party lost out to the Social Democrats, and she was succeeded as chancellor by Olaf Scholz.

Kerstin Gleba from Kiepenheuer & Witsch said Merkel had led the country through dramatic crises and "shaped German and international politics and society in a unique way with her actions and attitudes."

She said Merkel's memoirs would be "a significant document of contemporary international history."