‘Merkel WILL be Chancellor until 2021’ – even if CDU suffers European elections DISASTER

Last month, German media claimed Angela Merkel could quit as Chancellor as early as next month after her successor and CDU leader Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer called a surprise meeting of party figureheads after the European elections. Television news channel and website Welt reported the CDU chairwoman scheduled the meeting for June 2 in Berlin, fuelling speculation Ms Kramp-Karrenbauer is already looking to implement radical changes. The last unscheduled board meeting called by the CDU was held last autumn after the withdrawal of Mrs Merkel from office as the party chairwoman.

But according to Swiss financial publication Cash, citing unnamed CDU insiders, Mrs Merkel is fighting plans from Ms Kramp-Karrenbauer to quit as Chancellor if her party performs poorly in this week’s European elections.

The report said according to Ms Kramp-Karrenbauer’s plans for the behind-closed-door CDU meeting at the start of next month, the transfer of power from the German Chancellor was already being prepared.

It claimed doubts among senior CDU ministers were growing over whether Ms Kramp-Karrenbauer would be the right candidate to lead the party in the 2021 general election.

But on Sunday, Ms Kramp-Karrenbauer attempted to quash speculation Mrs Merkel quit imminently, insisting she will stay on as Chancellor in Germany for a further two years as originally planned.

She told German newspaper Funke Mediengruppe: “Angela Merkel will be Chancellor until 2021. I have to do my job as party leader, and that’s what I’m focusing on.

“I start from the full legislative term, and that’s my work schedule too.”

Wolfgang Schäuble, President of German Parliament the Bundestag, also insisted Mrs Merkel would not be stepping down early as Chancellor.

He told German broadcaster Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg on Saturday Mrs Merkel was “exceptionally successful” and is elected for the entire term of office.

The Parliament leader and CDU politician insisted a change of leader within the legislative period was not straightforward.

Mr Schäuble said: ”Mrs Merkel is Chancellor, and she is Chancellor for this legislative term.”

He also referred to recent opinion polls, according to which a “growing majority of Germans” see this as the correct way forward.

A survey by the research group Forschungsgruppe Wahlen from May 7-9 found more than two thirds (68 percent) of the 1,357 respondents backed Mrs Merkel to remain Chancellor until 2021.

Mr Schäuble added: If you look in opinion polls: a large, a growing majority of Germans sees it as the right thing to do.

“The Bundestag election period is four years, and until then, Mrs. Merkel is Chancellor.”

Germany’s already fragile Government is coming under increasing pressure as the crucial European elections and simultaneous state elections in Bremen approach.

If the Social Democratic Party (SDP) badly underperforms, they could walk away from the coalition Government running Germany – casting huge doubt over leadership in the country.

This could lead to a premature end to Merkel’s position as Chancellor, as she would not run again in the event of new elections.

The possible formation of a Government without new elections taking place would only come about without Mrs Merkel still in power, since FDP leader Christian Lindner has ruled out voting for her as a Chancellor.

Additional reporting by Monika Pallenberg.

source: express.co.uk