Most of the actual policy that was in place under Merkel was center-left, and her non-fiscal policy choices mostly went in a centre left or left wing direction, and the centre-right fiscal policy choices under Merkel really would likely not have been implemented if it was not for the radical left policy choices that was made.

Stopping border enforcement, decommissioning nuclear power and the heavy swing towards renewable energy are some of the most far left radical policy that has ever been tried, and it all came from Merkel, and they all failed spectacularly, and have significantly damaged Europe and Germany.

If it was not for these failed far-left policy choices many of her centre-right fiscal policy choices would have never been made either. And it's not clear that a centre-left government would have had the option to make other fiscal policy choices.

So I entirely reject the premise that Merkel's era was centre-right.