German Chancellor Angela Merkel refuses to see why she should call it a day

Angela Merkel

The German Chancellor has one important truth to tell those who have questioned her desire to continue in power.  This truth is that the longer she rules, the better she gets.

Angela Merkel, 63, has been Chancellor of Germany for 12 years.  Opinion polls have suggested that she is on course for another four years after the general elections on September 24.  Those who are able to read her accurately have said that, if she won, she would, most certainly, not depart after a couple of years in order to give her successor time to find their feet before the 2021 election.

She insists that she remains curious about developments such as the digital world and about challenges facing Europe such as security.  According to her, ''I believe that curiosity and experience can be a good combination.''

 
It is generally believed that Mrs Merkel had always promised herself not to overstay her welcome, and certainly not to remain for as long as her mentor Helmut Kohl, who served for 16 years.  She has not forgotten how Kohl's popularity waned during his final term leading to his defeat by Gerhard Schroder in 1998.

An opinion poll her had conservative party polling at 38 per cent, and the center-left Social Democratic Party on 24 per cent.