This book uses the early stage of the euro crisis as a case study, dissecting Angela Merkel's incremental crisis-management, her tactical strengths, and her reliance on media-driven decision-making. It sheds light on how Maastricht Treaty principles were overridden by bailouts and ECB interventions. Drawing from a decade of firsthand experience, the narrative blends scholarly insights into leadership and incrementalism with a vivid insider's perspective, offering a unique window into this pivotal moment in European integration.