As former German Chancellor Angela Merkel turns 70, her one-time Health Minister Jens Spahn offers a mixed review of her 16-year tenure.

Spahn, now deputy leader of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, highlights three major missteps: the handling of mass migration since 2015, the approach to Putin's Russia post-2014, and the decision to phase out nuclear energy.

However, he also credits Merkel's early years with significant achievements, including stabilizing the pension system, managing the financial crisis, and overseeing Germany's longest economic upswing.

Despite these criticisms, a recent poll suggests that 61% of Germans believe conditions have worsened since Merkel left office, indicating a complex legacy for the long-serving chancellor.