DHARAMSHALA: His Holiness the Dalai Lama has congratulated German Chancellor Angela Merkel on her victory in the recently held national elections. 

In his letter to the Chancellor, His Holiness said he is a great admirer of the European Union. He expressed his appreciation for her far sightedness and leading role in the European Union’s efforts to meet the aspirations of whole Europe. He also expressed his admiration for her firm stand on issues of principle and human rights. 

Despite protests from the Chinese government, Chancellor Angela Merkel held a historic meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the chancellory in Berlin in 2007. In an interview with a German newspaper about the meeting, His Holiness the Dalai Lama said: “What I appreciate about Mrs Merkel, is her steady engagement on human rights and religious freedom… Perhaps that is why she wants to see me, in spite of all the pressure from China.”

Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) triumphed on Sunday, securing her a historic third-term victory in the German elections. Merkel’s CDU and its sister party, the Christian Social Union, won 41.5% of the vote. Merkel is on track to overtake Margaret Thatcher as Europe’s longest-serving female leader, The Guardian reported.