In a letter from five former top politicians, including ex-Chancellor Gerhard Schroder, the Government was urged to show “unrestricted European solidarity”. Their call comes after Mrs Merkel won praise for her response to the domestic issues caused by the virus outbreak but was fiercely criticised for her handling of the epidemic in wider Europe. In their letter, the group of five wrote: “Germany has won incredibly politically and economically by the uniting of Europe.