Angela Merkel faced a bruising contest in Bavaria’s state election last weekend, with another election next week expected to humiliate the German Chancellor.
According to a Die Welt journalist, the long-serving German leader could quit her post at December’s CDU party conference – before taking on another top job in Europe.
Stefanie Bolzen, from Die Welt, told the BBC that “rumours are swirling in Brussels that Merkel could run for the European Commission next year”.
The shock revelation on the successor of Jean-Claude Juncker, who steps down next year, comes just a day after Italy’s Matteo Salvini spoke about his interest in the position.
Bolzen told BBC’s Dateline: “Merkel is very vulnerable with the Hessian election next week. We should look at the December CDU party conference.
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“There is a lot of talk that something may happen there. She may even declare that she could go. There is a need for new leadership in the party.
“There are rumours in Brussels right now that she could go for the head of Commission next year to replace Jean-Claude Juncker and gossip always tells you something.”
Angela Merkel would become the highest profile candidates for the post of European Commission president if decides to run for the position in Brussels.
She could face a challenge from Matteo Salvini, Italy’s controversial eurosceptic deputy prime minister.
This week, Mr Salvini hinted that would may run for the European Commission presidency if an EU-wide group of eurosceptic nationalists win support at the European parliamentary elections.
He told La Repubblica: “It’s true, friends from different European countries have asked me, suggested it.
“It is nice that they see me as a point of reference for the people’s defence, even outside Italy. We will see, I’ll think about it.”
The president of the European Commission is selected by the European Council, based on the results of the election of MEPs.
At the moment there are only two candidates in the running for the commission job – former Finnish prime minister Alexander Stubb and the German leader of the European People’s Party (EPP) Manfred Weber.
Mrs Merkel has previously given her backing to Mr Weber to succeed Mr Juncker as president after European elections in May.
The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, has said he will not stand as a candidate to succeed Jean-Claude Juncker as president of the European Commission.