GERMAN Chancellor Angela Merkel sensationally quit today and announced she will step down as Chancellor in 2021 just hours after reports said she would be stepping down as the German CDU leader.
Merkel said she will not seek another term as the countries leader when her mandate ends in 2021.
Her departure will end more than decade-long era in which she has dominated German and European politics and will come as a blow for the left.
Merkel has been a walking disaster ever since she let in over One Million Refugees – sparking division and chaos in Germany.
Merkel told a press conference she would not seek re-election as party chairwoman in December, kickstarting the race to replace her as Christian Democrat candidate in 2021, when the next federal election is due. She will also not seek re-election to the Bundestag.
The statements were made following a meeting of the party leadership, which was called to discuss two electoral disasters in regional elections in as many weeks.
She had earlier announced her decision to the party, when her “moving words” were greeted with a standing ovation, sources told German media.