Coalition partner attacks Merkel over ‘feeble’ re-election bid

While she has never been described as a visionary or earned much praise for stirring speeches, Merkel – sometimes referred to as “Mutti”, or “Mom”, in Germany – has won respect for being tough, shrewd and dogged in tackling problems.

Since coming to power in 2005, Ms. Merkel has gradually acquired a political stature commensurate with the power of her country, Europe’s largest economy and its most populous nation, with about 81 million inhabitants. Increasingly, he said, Dr Merkel’s “presidential style” polarises German voters.

“We will face opposition from all sides”, Ms. Merkel said, citing both populist and left-wing opponents at home and overseas who “threaten our values and way of life in Germany”.

Underlining her relative strength, Merkel gathered outgoing US President Barack Obama and the leaders of Britain, France, Spain and Italy at her chancellery on Friday for talks on the fight against terrorism, climate change and the strategic threat posed by Russian Federation.

The center-left Social Democrats (SPD), junior partner to Merkel’s conservatives in their ruling “grand coalition”, accused the chancellor of a “pretty feeble performance” in announcing her candidacy on Sunday evening.

According to recent polls, the AfD would win about 10 percent of the vote if general elections were to be held now.

SPD party leader and Germany’s Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel has yet to decide whether to run, while European Parliament President Martin Schulz is also considered a strong possible contender. During 11 years of her chancellorship, the conservative politician became a champion of liberal values, winning over more left-wing Germans but alienating some of her more traditional supporters. Polls have shown she still enjoys strong support, if less so than before Germany, a country of about 80 million people, opened its doors to almost 1 million new arrivals previous year.

Ms Merkel said she expected strong challenges from the left and right fringes of society as Germany has become more polarised.

Merkel says she struggled with the decision to run, however, not just because of the failure of her refugee policy, but whether her experience justified staying in office another term and whether she was still hungry enough to do the job. She conceded defeat in several traditionally CDU strongholds in the state elections earlier this year, and acknowledged that her position on refugees had contributed to her decrease in support. Ms Merkel massaged down expectations about what she can do.

Even with her immigration policy casting a shadow on her legacy, there is more than that at stake for Merkel. But she has aligned herself firmly with the legacy of Obama, who last week made his last visit to Germany as president. A referendum in Italy and an Austrian presidential ballot in two weeks, followed by elections in the Netherlands, France and then Germany will all test voter appetite for populist candidates who promise to upset the established order. The Chancellor said that she had some introspection and self-reflection before reaching the decision to stand for re-election.

Germans may no longer view her as a mother figure.

Frauke Petry, one of the leaders of Alternative for Germany, criticized the idea of Ms. Merkel’s gaining another four years in office.

A survey by the Emnid research institute on Sunday put her CDU party at 33 percent, down nine points from the last national election in 2013. A fourth term could offer stability at a time when the world is facing uncertain times, with the Brexit vote and a Trump presidency shaking things up.