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Merkel will not seek re-election as CDU chair after Hesse election debacle – reports Merkel will not seek re-election as CDU chair after Hesse election debacle – reports
(35 minutes later)
German Chancellor Angela Merkel will not seek re-election as the CDU сhair, reports citing party sources say. The information comes a day after the CDU suffered another major setback in a local election. Angela Merkel will not seek re-election as party chair of CDU, which she has headed for 18 years, reports citing party sources say. The information comes a day after her party suffered another major setback in a local election.
Merkel, who has chaired the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) since 2000, was expected to compete again at the party congress in Hamburg in early December. The German chancellor, who has chaired the Christian Democratic Union since 2000, was expected to compete again at the party congress in Hamburg in early December.
Reports now suggest that she might be changing plans after her party suffered another major setback in local elections, this time in the state of Hesse. The CDU managed to get 28 percent of the vote, which marks a massive drop from the 38.3 percent won during Hesse’s last election in 2013.Reports now suggest that she might be changing plans after her party suffered another major setback in local elections, this time in the state of Hesse. The CDU managed to get 28 percent of the vote, which marks a massive drop from the 38.3 percent won during Hesse’s last election in 2013.
With support for Merkel’s ruling party plummeting, the Eurosceptic Alternative for Germany (AfD) is steadily gaining ground. After its breakthrough in Hesse and Bavaria, it now holds parliamentary seats in every single German state. Though 64-year-old Merkel has reportedly decided not to stand for re-election, she is apparently still not ready to give up the chancellorship. It is said that the leader wants to serve her full term as German chancellor until 2021.
With support for the ruling party plummeting, the Eurosceptic Alternative for Germany (AfD) is steadily gaining ground. After its breakthrough in Hesse and Bavaria, it now holds parliamentary seats in every single German state.
Germany’s Der Spiegel magazine suggested that possible candidates to replace Merkel could include CDU General Secretary Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn, or North Rhine-Westphalia’s Minister President Armin Laschet. Friedrich Merz, a former leader of the CDU/CSU coalition in the Bundestag, was reportedly also named as a possible successor.Germany’s Der Spiegel magazine suggested that possible candidates to replace Merkel could include CDU General Secretary Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn, or North Rhine-Westphalia’s Minister President Armin Laschet. Friedrich Merz, a former leader of the CDU/CSU coalition in the Bundestag, was reportedly also named as a possible successor.
READ MORE: Merkel's sister party CSU suffers worst election result since 1950 in BavariaREAD MORE: Merkel's sister party CSU suffers worst election result since 1950 in Bavaria
Merkel also ruled out running for any senior positions in the European Union, insiders told Reuters.
Speaking on the Sunday election in Hesse, independent political observer Steven Meissner told RT that the chancellor “is getting weaker and weaker and more unpopular.”Speaking on the Sunday election in Hesse, independent political observer Steven Meissner told RT that the chancellor “is getting weaker and weaker and more unpopular.”
Merkel, who has been the leader of Europe’s powerhouse for almost 13 years, secured her fourth term as chancellor in March after months of political gambling.Merkel, who has been the leader of Europe’s powerhouse for almost 13 years, secured her fourth term as chancellor in March after months of political gambling.
In 2017, an alliance of the CDU and sister-party CSU secured only 33 percent of the vote in the German parliamentary election, a fact that highlighted record-low support for Germany’s major parties.In 2017, an alliance of the CDU and sister-party CSU secured only 33 percent of the vote in the German parliamentary election, a fact that highlighted record-low support for Germany’s major parties.
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