German Chancellor Merkel says she's seeking a fourth term
Posted November 20, 2016 6:00 am
BERLIN (AP) - Angela Merkel, who has steered Germany through several global crises as its first woman leader, says she will seek a fourth term as Germany's chancellor in general elections next year.
Speaking after a meeting with high-ranking members of her center-right party, Merkel told reporters Sunday night that "I literally thought about this decision endlessly ... but I am ready to run for office again."
If the 62-year-old Merkel wins next year and serves the entire four-year term, she would match her one-time mentor Helmut Kohl's post-war record of 16 years in office.
German chancellor Angela Merkel, third left, attends a meeting with US president Barack Obama, left, French president, Francois Hollande, third right, Spain's Prime Minister , Mariano Rajoy, right, Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May, second right, and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, second left, at the chancellary in Berlin, Friday Nov.18, 2016. Obama is joining the leaders of key European countries to discuss an array of security and economic challenges facing the trans-Atlantic partners as the U.S. prepares for President-elect Donald Trump to take office in January. (Kay Nietfeld/Pool Photo via AP)
The Associated Press
German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends a news conference with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy after a meeting of the government heads of Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Britain with U.S. President Barack Obama in the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Nov. 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this June 3, 2013 file photo German Chancellor Angela Merkel stand behind a window with a reflection of the European flag as she waits for the arrival of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, unseen, for a meeting at the chancellery in Berlin. Media reported Sunday, Nov. Nov. 20, 2016 that Merkel will run for a fourth four-year-term to become one of the longest-serving leaders of post-war Germany. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, file)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this March 9, 2016 file photo Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, and team members make Merkel's trademark gesture as they pose for the media during a reception for the German National Handball team at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany. Media reported Sunday, Nov. Nov. 20, 2016 that Merkel will run for a fourth four-year-term to become one of the longest-serving leaders of post-war Germany. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn, file)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Sept. 5, 2015 file photo a refugee carries a picture of German Chancellor Angela Merkel as he arrives at the main train station in Munich, Germany. Hundreds of refugees arrived in various trains to get first registration as asylum seekers in Germany. Media reported Sunday, Nov. Nov. 20, 2016 that Merkel will run for a fourth four-year-term to become one of the longest-serving leaders of post-war Germany. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, file)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this March 23, 2015 file photo German Chancellor Angela Merkel, right, points as she and the Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras leave after a press conference as part of a meeting at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany. Media reported Sunday, Nov. Nov. 20, 2016 that Merkel will run for a fourth four-year-term to become one of the longest-serving leaders of post-war Germany. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn, file)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Dec. 17, 2010 file photo German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks during a final media conference at an EU summit in Brussels. Media reported Sunday, Nov. Nov. 20, 2016 that Merkel will run for a fourth four-year-term to become one of the longest-serving leaders of post-war Germany. (AP Photo/Yves Logghe, file)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this July 17, 2006 file photo US President George W. Bush gives a helping hand to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, as she arrives for a group photo at the G-8 Summit in St. Petersburg, Russia. Media reported Sunday, Nov. Nov. 20, 2016 that Merkel will run for a fourth four-year-term to become one of the longest-serving leaders of post-war Germany. (AP Photo/ Jan Bauer, file)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this April 30, 1991 file photo then German Chancellor Helmut Kohl background looks on with Women and Youth Minister Angela Merkel, prior to a cabinet meeting in the Bonn Chancellery. Media reported Sunday, Nov. Nov. 20, 2016 that Merkel will run for a fourth four-year-term to become one of the longest-serving leaders of post-war Germany. (AP Photo/Fritz Reiss, file)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Nov. 15, 2013 file photo German Chancellor Angela Merkel, leader of the Christian Democratic Union, smiles in front of an emblem which shows a crown during the annual meeting 'Germany Day' (Deutschlandtag) of the party's youth organization Young Union (Junge Union) in Erfurt, central Germany. Media reported Sunday, Nov. Nov. 20, 2016 that Merkel will run for a fourth four-year-term to become one of the longest-serving leaders of post-war Germany. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer, file)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Feb. 24, 2016 file photo German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends the weekly cabinet meeting of the German government at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany. Media reported Sunday, Nov. Nov. 20, 2016 that Merkel will run for a fourth four-year-term and become one of the longest-serving leaders of post-war Germany. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
The Associated Press
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked.
If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.