Berlin: German Chancellor Angela Merkelu2019s designated successor unexpectedly threw in the towel on Monday, plunging her conservative party into deeper crisis as it struggles to agree on its future political direction after losing votes to the far right.
Annegret Kramp- Karrenbauer told leading members of the Christian Democratic Union that she wonu2019t be seeking the chancellorship in next yearu2019s election, upending Merkelu2019s plans to hand her the reins after more than 15 years in power. Merkelu2019s spokesman Steffen Seibert said Germanyu2019s long- time leader stood by her decision not to run for a fifth term in 2021, despite the latest development.
Kramp- Karrenbaueru2019s announcement reflects the growing split with the Christian Democrats exposed last week in its handling of the election of a governor in the state of Thuringia. The regional party lawmakers voted with the far- right Alternative for Germany party to oust the left- wing incumbent, ignoring advice from Berlin leadership.
The move broke what is widely regarded as a taboo in post- war German politics around cooperating with extremist parties. Annegret Kramp- Karrenbauer is still Germanyu2019s defence minister.
A shift to the right in Merkelu2019s centre- right party could trigger a break with Merkelu2019s junior coalition partners in Germanyu2019s federal government, the centre- left Social Democrats, and increase the chances the country will hold the next general election early. Agencies German leader Merkelu2019s party in crisis as successor quits Annegret Kramp- Karrenbauer ( left) with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday in Berlin. PIC/ AFP Annegret Kramp- Karrenbauer told leading members of the Christian Democratic Union that she wonu2019t be seeking the chancellorship in next yearu2019s election, upending Merkelu2019s plans to hand her the reins after more than 15 years in power
