Yes, the position much-coveted by New Zealand's former Prime Minister, Helen Clark - the Secretaryship of the United Nations - could've, I contend would've - easily fallen into the grasp of Angela Merkel awhile ago had she then seen and seized her opportunity (while she had it).
Ms Clark didn't lose the contest because she was a woman, or even because she didn't happen to hail from one of the former Eastern Bloc nations, though it was mentioned early on that that was an important consideration for whoever was ultimately s/elected. Yet despite that, as we soon enough heard, the former Portuguese PM was appointed; or another 'pale, stale and male' individual, as some folk these days might uncharitably characterize him...
Nevertheless, someone hailing from a *one-time Eastern European nation, of the female gender, and a (relatively) long-serving, **popular and well-respected - nationally, European-wide and globally - leader of Angela Merkel's ilk would've won hands down; it wouldn't even have been a real contest, I reckon... .
As someone once famously said, taking a river (or suchlike) at full, flood-tide, will inevitably sweep one on to victory...whereas that moment, unrecognized and unrealized, will vanish, never to return.
Speaking as one well familiar with such (personal) stuff ups, you understand!
*For those unaware - as I long was - Chancellor Merkel grew up in what was then Eastern Germany.
**Though she certainly covers all these (three) bases, I'm not suggesting my own support for her (or her policies, especially her (Government's) million-person refugee resettlement program, which has landed her in so much political hot water, and even led to her premature exiting the political scene); I'm simply noting that Ms Merkel personally has garnered much acclaim both at home and abroad.
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