Merkel draws hundreds in Prague for book tour, calls for EU unity

Hundreds of fans packed into Prague’s Lucerna Palace on Monday to see former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who greeted the audience in Czech and signed copies of her memoir, Freedom: Memoirs 1954–2021, during a rare public appearance in the Czech capital.

The visit, part of a limited European tour to promote her bestselling book, drew strong interest throughout the day. Long lines formed at the Luxor Palace of Books, where Merkel held a signing session under tight security. The Czech edition of the memoir, published late last year, has sold 7,000 copies and continues to generate interest, particularly among students and readers of political biography.

Later that evening, Merkel addressed a full house at Lucerna Palace in a wide-ranging discussion that touched on European unity, global power dynamics, the war in Ukraine, and the threat of rising populism.

She urged European countries to stand together, warning that no member state can assert itself globally—against powers like Russia, China, or even the United States—without the backing of the bloc. “The EU must not act fearfully, but with confidence,” she said.

Turning to Ukraine, Merkel defended the controversial 2015 Minsk agreements, which she said gave Kyiv vital time to prepare for future aggression. “Without that time,” she argued, “Ukraine would not have been able to repel the first Russian attack.”

Merkel also spoke about the rise of Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, warning that protest votes for extremist parties can undermine democracy. She encouraged young people to get involved in politics, adding that the future depends on societies choosing empathy over hate.

The 700-page memoir, co-written with longtime aide Beate Baumann, reflects on Merkel’s life in East Germany and her 16 years at the helm of Europe’s largest economy.

Several pages are devoted to Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic. The memoir details interactions with Donald Trump during his first four-year term, including her take on the former president’s relationship with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

While the book has been praised for its insights, critics note it avoids major revelations or self-criticism.

“I reckon this is a book that people will be buying for a long time to come—those who need it for their studies, for their worldview, and so on,” said Martin Vopěnka, chairman of the Union of Czech Booksellers and Publishers and owner of the publishing house Prah, which released the Czech edition.