Merkel’s succession plan now spelt out

Angela Merkel will step down as German chancellor when her mandate ends in 2021, a party source says, after a series of political crises and regional vote debacles rocked her coalition. Often hailed as the world’s most powerful woman and Europe’s de facto leader, a weakened Merkel has faced growing calls to spell out her succession plans after 13 years in power.

Angela Merkel will step down as German chancellor when her mandate ends in 2021, a party source says, after a series of political crises and regional vote debacles rocked her coalition.

Often hailed as the world’s most powerful woman and Europe’s de facto leader, a weakened Merkel has faced growing calls to spell out her succession plans after 13 years in power.

Speaking at a meeting of her centre-right Christian Democratic Union on Monday, Merkel told top brass she planned to give up the party leadership, a role she has held for 18 years. She said she wanted to complete her fourth stint as chancellor but stressed it would be “her last term”, a party source said.

“She was genuinely sad and not at all bitter and asked that the discussion about her succession be conducted in a kind manner,” the source said, adding that Merkel’s words were greeted with a standing ovation.

Germany’s veteran leader had been widely expected to run for re-election as Christian Democratic Union leader at a party congress in December.

Merkel had until now always insisted that the posts of party chief and chancellor in Europe’s top economy should be held by the same person.

Her power has been on the wane since her fateful 2015 decision to keep Germany’s borders open, ultimately allowing in more than 1-million migrants.

The mass arrivals deeply polarised Germany and are credited with fuelling the rise of the far-right. Railing against the newcomers, the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) is now the biggest opposition party in the Bundestag and has seats in all state parliaments. AfD leader Joerg Meuthen hailed Merkel’s eventual departure as “good news”.

Merkel’s news comes after the Christian Democratic Union and its junior federal coalition partner the Social Democrats suffered heavy losses in an election in the state of Hesse on Sunday. Just two weeks earlier, Merkel’s conservative Christian Social Union sister party suffered a similar drubbing in Bavaria.