While Meryl Streep brought home an Oscar for her role a the steely British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, a more contemporary female politician is getting kudos of her own.

Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel is now Europe’s de facto leader. As the Chancellor of the continent’s largest economy she has been spearheading the financial recovery efforts in the teetering European Union.

With Greece, Italy, Ireland, and Spain’s facing mounting debts, Merkel has been the “Go-To” person to look for financial assistance.

And the problems she and the Eurozone are facing are serious. A meltdown in Europe would have serious consequences for the US.

Will Merkel be the next Thatcher? If so… what will her movie legacy look like a decade from now?

Some critics thought the Thatcher film was a downer. Let’s hope Merkel’s film has a happy (economic) ending.