This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/29/angela-merkel-wont-seek-re-election-as-cdu-party-leader

The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Angela Merkel will not seek re-election as CDU party leader German chancellor Angela Merkel 'won't seek re-election in 2021'
(35 minutes later)
The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, has told senior figures in the Christian Democrats (CDU) she will not seek re-election as party chairwoman at a conference in early December. Angela Merkel has told members of her Christian Democrats party that she won’t seek another term as chancellor when her mandate ends in 2021, German media is reporting, ending a more than decade-long era in which she has dominated European politics.
Merkel has been the CDU chairwoman since 2000 and giving up the role would kickstart a race within the party to succeed her as its candidate for chancellor in elections in 2021. Merkel also told senior party figures she will not seek re-election as party chairwoman in December, kickstarting the race to replace her as CDU candidate in 2021, when the next federal election is due.
Merkel has indicated she will carry on as chancellor for the time being, According to the German news agency dpa. Traditionally, the person who chairs the government’s largest party also takes the position of chancellor, but this is not a binding rule. The statements were made at a meeting of the party leadership, which was called to discuss two electoral disasters in regional elections in as many weeks. Merkel’s “moving words” were greeted with a standing ovation, sources told German media.
The developments on Monday came after the CDU haemorrhaged support in a vote in the western state of Hesse. Preliminary final results from the election on Sunday, seen as decisive for the future of Germany’s increasingly wobbly coalition, showed the CDU slumping to 27%, the party’s worst showing in the state since 1966 and a drop of 11 percentage points since Hesse last went to the polls in 2013. It had been widely assumed that this would be Merkel’s final term as chancellor but before the reported remarks she had not confirmed that herself. The 64-year-old, who has been CDU chairwoman since 2000 and chancellor since 2005, was due to give a press conference at 1pm (1200 GMT).
Merkel’s coalition partner in Berlin, the Social Democrats (SPD), tanked to 19.8% in a dead heat with the resurgent Green party for second place. The result, the SPD’s worst since 1946, will pile pressure on the party leader, Andrea Nahles. Whoever becomes the next CDU leader will likely be put forward as the party’s candidate for chancellor in 2021. Merkel’s favoured successor is the CDU party secretary general, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, who announced her candidacy on Monday. 
In the past, Merkel has always said the position of chancellor and the head of the party should be held by one person. German media reported that Friedrich Merz, a former parliamentary leader of the CDU/CSU alliance, was also joining the race to succeed Merkel. Other favourites are health minister Jens Spahn and state the premier of North Rhine-Westphalia, Armin Laschet.
Merkel, who is thought to be preparing a slow withdrawal from politics, had previously indicated she would stand for the position, potentially for the last time. But in the face of considerable losses in Hesse, it is thought the CDU leadership may have changed her mind. German news agency dpa reported that Merkel intends to continue as chancellor for now. Traditionally, the person who holds position of party chair of the government’s largest party also takes position of chancellor, but this is not a binding rule. Previously Merkel has said the two jobs belong together.
Merkel’s predecessor as chancellor Gerhard Schröder made the same move in February 2004, giving up his position as SPD chairman but remaining chancellor until November 2005. At the time, Merkel, who was leader of the opposition, spoke of a “loss of authority all along the line” and “the beginning of the end” of Schröder. Merkel’s predecessor Gerhard Schröder made the same move in February 2004, giving up the position of chairman but remaining chancellor until November 2005. At the time, Merkel, who was then leader of the opposition, spoke of a “loss of authority all along the line,” and “the beginning of the end” of Schröder.
Standing down as party leader will allow a new CDU chair to build a profile before the next national election, due in 2021. Whoever is elected would be expected to stand as the CDU candidate for chancellor. Christian Lindner, leader of the liberal FDP party, was the first to demand Merkel’s resignation as chancellor on the back of the news, calling for her ruling conservative bloc to “be prepared for a real new beginning in Germany”.
Merkel’s favoured successor is the CDU party secretary general, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer. On Monday German media reported that the health minister, Jens Spahn, and Friedrich Merz, a former parliamentary leader of the CDU/CSU alliance, had joined the race to succeed Merkel. Merkel’s CDU allies, however, seem ready to accept her decision to stay on as chancellor for now. Ex-president of the German parliament Norbert Lammert told Die Welt that it was acceptable as part of a “transition phase,” whereas head of the CDU in the German state of Thuringia, Mike Mohringsprach spoke of a “turning point.” Others greeted the chance for renewal in the party.
The euro fell to session lows on the news. Merkel’s weakness at home may limit her capacity to lead in the EU at a time when the bloc is dealing with Brexit, a budget crisis in Italy and the prospect of populist parties making gains at European parliament elections next May. The developments on Monday came after the CDU haemorrhaged support in a vote in the western state of Hesse. Preliminary final results from Sunday’s election, seen as decisive for the future of Germany’s increasingly wobbly coalition, showed the CDU slumping to 27%, the party’s worst showing in the state since 1966 and a drop of 11 percentage points since Hesse last went to the polls in 2013.
The trouncing for the German coalition parties on Sunday comes shortly after a disastrous result in Bavaria widely seen as a protest against the failings of the Berlin government. The Hesse result will be seen as further evidence of the shrinking of the mainstream political landscape across Germany and Europe more widely. Merkel’s coalition partner in Berlin, the Social Democrats (SPD), tanked to 19.8% in a dead heat with the resurgent Green party for second place. The result, the SPD’s worst since 1946, also piled pressure on the party leader, Andrea Nahles.
Reuters contributed to this report Following news of Merkel’s decision not to stand for re-election as leader of the CDU, Nahles ruled out a change in leadership in her party. “A personnel configuration is not being discussed in the SPD,” Nahles told journalists on Monday morning. 
The euro fell to session lows on Monday. Merkel’s weakness at home may limit her capacity to lead in the EU at a time when the bloc is dealing with Brexit, a budget crisis in Italy and the prospect of populist parties making gains at European parliament elections next May.
The trouncing for the German coalition parties on Sunday came shortly after a disastrous result in Bavaria widely seen as a protest against the failings of the Berlin government. The Hesse result will be seen as further evidence of the shrinking of the mainstream political landscape across Germany and Europe more widely.
GermanyGermany
Angela MerkelAngela Merkel
EuropeEurope
European UnionEuropean Union
newsnews
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on Google+Share on Google+
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content