Angela Merkel, the long-serving pillar of stability in Western Europe's leadership, set off a race for her successor on Monday, announcing she would not contest her party’s leadership election later this year.
The East German-raised scientist, who became united Germany’s first female chancellor in 2005, told a news conference that she planned to step down by 2021 and that giving up the party post was the first step in the plan. The 64-year-old said she had decided her fourth term in office would be her last after the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party slipped 10 percentage points in a regional vote in Hesse state on Sunday.
"I once said that I wasn’t born chancellor," Mrs Merkel said. "That I haven’t forgotten.
“As the chancellor and the chair of the Christian Democrats, the buck stops here, both for successes and failures," she said. "The time has come to open a new chapter."
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Read more:
The five moments that made Merkel
Coalition partner gives Merkel ultimatum after state election reverse
Merkel's coalition shaken by drubbing in Bavaria
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Mrs Merkel was named chair of the CDU in 2000, overcoming the early chauvinism that allowed the press to dub her “Kohl’s girl” when she was named minister for women's and youth affairs by former chancellor Helmut Kohl post reunification.
After 2016, when President Donald Trump was elected US president, Mrs Merkel was hailed by many of his opponents as the de facto leader of the free world in the absence of a globally respected American leader.
History is likely to view Mrs Merkel’s spontaneous decision to open Germany’s borders to more than one million refugees fleeing the rise of ISIS and the Syrian civil war as the defining moment of her career. The welcome policy she adopted in the summer of 2015 changed the face of the country but eroded conservative support, paving the way for the rise of the hard-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).
Having seen support for her party drop at the 2017 general election, Mrs Merkel was forced into a third unhappy coalition with the Social Democrats. A debilitating summer row with her own interior minister Horst Seehofer, the leader of the Bavarian faction in the coalition, over a new "immigrant masterplan” resulted in a setback in state elections there earlier this month.
Another damaging election on Sunday in the state that contains Germany’s financial capital, Frankfurt, delivered the last blow to her leadership. As she herself acknowledged, the pastor’s daughter has lost her ability to make the political weather.
“We can’t simply return to business as usual,” she said. “The raw numbers in Hesse were bitter and disappointing.”
It is not yet clear when Mrs Merkel will stand down as the nation’s leader. The CDU is divided and the installation of one of Mrs Merkel’s proteges as party leader could see her remain chancellor for the foreseeable future.
The euro has been under pressure in recent months but barely moved on the exchanges on Monday. At her announcement, Mrs Merkel was at pains to stress that the division of the party post from the government leadership could be managed.
"I do know this hasn't been done before, it is unprecedented, but I believe it offers far more opportunities than risks for the country, for the German government and for my party," she said.
No party to the coalition has any incentive to walk away. The Social Democrats have seen support slump as well and called on their conservative colleagues to quickly resolve the leadership issue.
Mrs Merkel’s preferred successor, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer would see a second successive woman take power in Berlin. The low-key former leader of the small state of Saarland is however likely to face a stiff challenge from a handful of contenders.
The most hostile to Mrs Merkel is Friedrich Merz, the head of investment firm BlackRock Germany, who was pushed aside as parliamentary leader of the CDU in a power struggle more than a decade ago.
The 38-year-old health minister Jens Spahn has also declared his candidacy and would be unlikely to accept a subservient position to Mrs Merkel if triumphant. He is a critic of the open-door immigration policy. Other claimants include Ralph Brinkhaus, a fiscal conservative who unexpectedly beat Mrs Merkel’s long-serving parliamentary leader just last month, and two state premiers, Armin Laschet and Daniel Guenther.
Tributes to the German leader came from across the political spectrum. Hesse state premier Volker Bouffier praised the chancellor despite the losses his government suffered. "Angela Merkel has made a noble decision, a right decision, a strong decision," he said.
At the European level there was concern that the German leader, who has acted as the bulwark of the EU project, would create a power vacuum at the heart of the continent.
"The fragility of a country like Germany is always a threat for Europe," Pierre Moscovici, the Economy Commissioner warned. "So we are paying attention."
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Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
Afghanistan fixtures
- v Australia, today
- v Sri Lanka, Tuesday
- v New Zealand, Saturday,
- v South Africa, June 15
- v England, June 18
- v India, June 22
- v Bangladesh, June 24
- v Pakistan, June 29
- v West Indies, July 4
Company%20profile
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Aston martin DBX specs
Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Power: 542bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Top speed: 291kph
Price: Dh848,000
On sale: Q2, 2020
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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UAE central contracts
Full time contracts
Rohan Mustafa, Ahmed Raza, Mohammed Usman, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Sultan Ahmed, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid
Part time contracts
Aryan Lakra, Ansh Tandon, Karthik Meiyappan, Rahul Bhatia, Alishan Sharafu, CP Rizwaan, Basil Hameed, Matiullah, Fahad Nawaz, Sanchit Sharma
The Specs
Price, base Dh379,000
Engine 2.9-litre, twin-turbo V6
Gearbox eight-speed automatic
Power 503bhp
Torque 443Nm
On sale now
The%20specs
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More coverage from the Future Forum
Results:
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 (PA) | Group 1 US$75,000 (Dirt) | 2,200 metres
Winner: Goshawke, Fernando Jara (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer)
7.05pm: UAE 1000 Guineas (TB) | Listed $250,000 (D) | 1,600m
Winner: Silva, Oisin Murphy, Pia Brendt
7.40pm: Meydan Classic Trial (TB) | Conditions $100,000 (Turf) | 1,400m
Winner: Golden Jaguar, Connor Beasley, Ahmad bin Harmash
8.15pm: Al Shindagha Sprint (TB) | Group 3 $200,000 (D) | 1,200m
Winner: Drafted, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (D) | 1,600m
Winner: Capezzano, Mickael Barzalona, Sandeep Jadhav
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (T) | 2,000m
Winner: Oasis Charm, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
10pm: Handicap (TB) | $135,000 (T) | 1,600m
Winner: Escalator, Christopher Hayes, Charlie Fellowes
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The%20specs
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The biog
Favourite books: 'Ruth Bader Ginsburg: A Life' by Jane D. Mathews and ‘The Moment of Lift’ by Melinda Gates
Favourite travel destination: Greece, a blend of ancient history and captivating nature. It always has given me a sense of joy, endless possibilities, positive energy and wonderful people that make you feel at home.
Favourite pastime: travelling and experiencing different cultures across the globe.
Favourite quote: “In the future, there will be no female leaders. There will just be leaders” - Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook.
Favourite Movie: Mona Lisa Smile
Favourite Author: Kahlil Gibran
Favourite Artist: Meryl Streep
Ipaf in numbers
Established: 2008
Prize money: $50,000 (Dh183,650) for winners and $10,000 for those on the shortlist.
Winning novels: 13
Shortlisted novels: 66
Longlisted novels: 111
Total number of novels submitted: 1,780
Novels translated internationally: 66
Pathaan
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MATCH INFO
Manchester City 3 (Silva 8' &15, Foden 33')
Birmginahm City 0
Man of the match Bernado Silva (Manchester City)
Saturday's schedule at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
GP3 race, 12:30pm
Formula 1 final practice, 2pm
Formula 1 qualifying, 5pm
Formula 2 race, 6:40pm
Performance: Sam Smith
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3EHayao%20Miyazaki%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%C2%A0Soma%20Santoki%2C%20Masaki%20Suda%2C%20Ko%20Shibasaki%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
World record transfers
1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m
MO
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Sinopharm vaccine explained
The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades.
“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.
"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."
This is then injected into the body.
"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.
"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."
The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.
Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.
“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.