Angela Merkel to run for fourth term as German chancellor

Angela Merkel told senior members of her Christian Democratic Union that she’ll run again as party leader and seek a fourth term as German chancellor, ending months of speculation over her political future.

The chancellor revealed her decision to a meeting of the CDU’s executive board in Berlin on Sunday, according to three people who were present. She said that by seeking re-election she wants to provide stability and direction in difficult times, one of the people said. 

All asked not to be named because an announcement has yet to be made public. Merkel is due to brief reporters at 7 pm local time. Merkel’s candidacy for the party leadership she has held since 2000 will now go to a vote at the CDU’s annual convention in the western city of Essen in two weeks. 

Assuming she is re-elected CDU chairwoman, she would then contest federal elections in the fall of next year as her party’s candidate to be chancellor.

“This removes any last bit of uncertainty,” Carsten Nickel, an analyst for Teneo Intelligence, said by phone from Brussels.  “For the markets, it’s positive” and it’s reassuring for wider Europe, he said. “Even if they don’t agree on everything, people know her, they know what to expect from her.” Merkel’s policy of allowing almost 1 million refugees to enter Germany last year eroded support for the chancellor and her party while fueling backing for the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany.  

The opprobrium heaped on her probably contributed to Merkel’s hesitancy over trying to extend her 11-year tenure as chancellor, as she deliberated how best to ease tensions in Germany.