Angela Merkel to seek a fourth term as chancellor: ‘This decision is anything but trivial’

The German Chancellor Angela Merkel has confirmed she will seek a fourth term next year. “The decision for a fourth term after 11 years is anything … (but) trivial, not for the country and not for the party, and I say it consciously also for me personally,” Merkel told gathered media in Berlin yesterday.

The woman dubbed “Mutti”, the mother of Germany, is not expecting an easy run. “The coming election will be difficult,” Merkel said. “We will probably be criticized from everywhere, from the right-wing parties and also because of the polarization of our society, also from the left party.”

In the 11 years since Merkel assumed the position of chancellor she has become one of the world’s most powerful politicians.

However the once immensely popular chancellor has suffered a domestic backlash due to her generous stance towards refugees: support for the anti-migration has weakened her position.   

Following the shock of Brexit and the election of Donald Trump, a fourth term represents an opportunity for stability that many Germans might welcome. According to the BBC, Merkel is likely to retain the position: one poll for a Sunday newspaper revealed that 55% of Germans want her to remain in the role, while the conservatives are polling at around 33%.

But if this year has taught us anything it’s that polls get it wrong and anything is possible. The conditions that saw Britain vote to leave the EU and Americans to elect Donald Trump, are applicable in Germany too.  

She has been described as the “West’s last defender of liberal values”, a tag she disagrees with. But her statement after Donald Trump’s election victory was unambiguous:  “Germany and America are connected by values of democracy, freedom and respect for the law and the dignity of man, independent of origin, skin color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or political views,” she said in a statement. “I offer the next President of the United States close cooperation on the basis of these values.”

If there was ever a time for an experienced and strong leader to remain on the world stage, this is it. Perhaps that is why one German newspaper ran a picture of Merkel with the headline ‘Alternativlos’ (without alternative)?