A placard announcing the book-signing of German former Chancellor Angela Merkel's book "Freedom: Memories 1954 - 2021" ("Freiheit") is pictured as people queue outside the Dussmann bookstore in Berlin on November 27, 2024, the day after the book's release. Germany's former chancellor Angela Merkel gives a spirited defence of her 16 years at the helm of Europe's top economy in her memoir "Freedom", released in 30 languages on November 26. Since she stepped down in 2021, Merkel has been accused of having been too soft on Russia, leaving Germany dangerously reliant on cheap Russian gas and sparking turmoil and the rise of the far right with her open-door migrant policy. (Photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP) (Photo by JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP via Getty Images)