If you ask a headhunter, the matter is clear: "I always admired Merkel says Bjørn Johannsson." She has led Europe. "Meanwhile, the Chancellor was a" lame duck ", a lame duck, resigned as CDU chief and a chancellor on call. "If she asked me - I would advise her to step in now."
Johannsson knows his way around with departures and ascents. The Norwegian, who lives in Switzerland, is looking for new top managers for large corporations when the old bosses have to leave. Merkel is done with his logic. Since he does not have to wait for their appearance in front of the business elite in Davos.
Shortly thereafter, when Merkel enters the stage in the almost fully occupied large hall of the Davos Congress Center, she is anything but lame. With unfamiliar passion, the Chancellor speaks before the World Economic Forum about the world and Germany. And consciously in that order.
Merkel as leader of the western world
Merkel takes advantage of the gap that some cancellations have torn into the Davos program this year: US President Donald Trump is busy at home with the shutdown, France's President Macron with the yellow vests and the rescue of his presidency. And British Prime Minister Theresa May has to look at the Brexit mess every day to see how long she's still in office.
Who still remains as leader of the western world? Right, Merkel. And that's exactly how she presents herself in her speech.
There are now fundamental doubts about multilateralism and an approach that says: "The world is best when everyone thinks of themselves," said Merkel. "I have my doubts about that, and I think we should understand our national interests in such a way that we think the interests of others."
This is such a clear message to Donald Trump that even the sometimes rather obtuse US President should understand. As well as its revenant, the Brazilian head of state Jair Bolsonaro, who was allowed to hold the opening speech of the World Economic Forum on Tuesday and who holds as little of international cooperation as Trump.
Merkel, on the other hand, relies on multilateralism, on international rules as a result of discussions. "A global architecture will only work if we are fundamentally capable of compromise," she says - another quality that trumps other populists.
"We make a good picture with her in the world"
In terms of content, Merkel is also unusually clear on some issues against US policy: With sanctions such as those against Iran and the dollar as the key currency, the government in Washington can "directly influence foreign companies", warns the Chancellor. The EU must ask itself how it can counter a strengthening of the euro. "Otherwise you will be controllable."
In the dispute over the Baltic Sea pipeline Nord Stream 2, which is so hated in the USA, Merkel also sends clear words in the direction of Washington: Germany will continue to source natural gas from Russia, she says, "that is perfectly clear." At the same time, however, it also promises to buy additional LPG from the USA. You just have to stay independent. Point.
Merkel's mixture of combative attitude and willingness to compromise is very well received by the German public in Davos. "We give her a good picture in the world," says Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr afterwards. "Compromises are sometimes boring, but they've brought Germany where the country is today."
In the end, Klaus Schwab, the founder of the World Economic Forum, addresses what many in the room may wonder: was that possibly her last appearance as chancellor in Davos? He hopes Merkel will come here even more often as chancellor, says Schwab. Officially, her term of office finally runs until 2021. "Now you have me today," replies Merkel, this time again pathosfrei and typically Merkel. "You should be happy about what you have."