Has Angela changed her mind? Merkel’s chief of staff is forced to deny Chancellor has dropped plans to retire next year amid speculation she may run for a fifth term after being praised for her handling of coronavirus crisis
- Helge Braun said: ‘She has said that this is her last term in office and I believe nothing has changed about that’
- Merkel said she would not seek re-election in 2021 after governing for 15 years
- But her success handling coronavirus crisis might mean she would run again
Angela Merkel’s chief of staff was forced to deny rumours that the German Chancellor will run for a fifth term.
Merkel has led the country for 15 years in four different terms but said she would not seek re-election in autumn 2021.
But a German newspaper speculated that Merkel might run again following her success handling the coronavirus crisis.
Angela Merkel has led Germany for 15 years in four different terms but said she would not seek re-election in autumn 2021
The disease has killed 1,400 people in Germany and infected more than 95,000.
German politicians – who were not named in the report – told Bild they were ‘really glad’ that Merkel is still in charge.
Helge Braun, Merkel’s chief of staff, said: ‘I don’t think this is any time to discuss something like that.
‘She has said that this is her last term in office and I believe nothing has changed about that.’
Merkel returned to work on Friday after two weeks of self isolation because a doctor who gave her a vaccination tested positive for coronavirus.
Helge Braun, Merkel’s chief of staff, said: ‘She has said that this is her last term in office and I believe nothing has changed about that.’ Pictured: Merkel and Braun last month
This graph shows the daily number of deaths added to the tally in Germany. Today’s figure of 92 was far lower than in recent days
This graph shows the daily number of new cases, with today’s figure of 3,677 marking the lowest in two weeks
The doctor had visited Merkel, 65, last month to vaccinate her against the pneumococcus bacteria.
Germany today saw sharp falls in both its daily death toll and its new infection count, offering fresh hope that the coronavirus lockdown is working.
The number of infections rose by 3,677 – the smallest since March 22 – to bring the overall tally from 91,714 to 95,391.
Meanwhile the death toll jumped by only 92, the lowest in a week, taking the total from 1,342 to 1,434.
The resulting fatality rate of 1.5 per cent remains lower than many of Germany’s neighbours, although it has risen every day for more than two weeks.