The incumbent leader announced she’d not seek re-election once her mandate finishes in 2021, as neither Chancellor nor party leader. It follows her Christian Democratic Union party’s “disappointing” slip in polls Sunday in key German state Hesse.
CDU’s Bavarian sister party also suffered losses in parliament last week and Merkel said the results were a “clear signal” things had to change. Since the 2017 election support for center-right parties have waned in Germany while fringe parties like AfD and the Greens have gained popularity.
