Merkel’s party in crisis as ‘heir apparent’ quits over far right dispute

BERLIN: Chancellor Angela Merkel’s heir apparent shook up German politics on Monday by unexpectedly declaring she would step down as the governing party’s head and not run for chancellor, fuelling uncertainty in the country amid pressure from the far right.
Already flagging in support by regional lawmakers, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer told Christian Democratic Union members that she would not seek the chancellorship in next year’s election, upending Merkel’s plans to hand her the reins after more than 15 years in power.
The announcement followed days of in-fighting within the party over its handling last week of the election of a governor in the state of Thuringia. Regional party lawmakers there voted with the far-right Alternative for Germany party, or AfD, to oust the left-wing incumbent, defying appeals from Kramp-Karrenbauer.
“I took note of this decision with the utmost respect, but I also say that I regret it,” Merkel said, thanking Kramp-Karrenbauer for her work and for agreeing to stay on until a new party chief is chosen. Kramp-Karrenbauer will remain in her role as defence minister.
Merkel has said she will not run for a fifth term in Germany’s next general election, which is scheduled for 2021. But any shift to the right in Merkel’s party could trigger a breakup of her federal coalition with the center-left Social Democrats and increase the chances of an early national election.