German Chancellor Angela Merkel announces she will run for a fourth term
Merkel's popularity has slipped but she is still considered to have widespread support
GERMAN Chancellor Angela Merkel has announced that she will stand for a fourth term in office.
Despite suffering an embarrassing regional election defeat earlier this year Ms Merkel is still considered to have widespread support - although her popularity has slipped since its height.
Ms Merkel, 62, announced her intention to stand at the headquarters of her centre-right Christian Democratic Union party today.
She said: "I thought about this for an endlessly long time. The decision for a fourth term is - after 11 years in office - anything but trivial."
She announced her intention saying "I want to serve Germany."
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General elections are expected to be held in Germany in 2017.
The Chancellor, repeatedly named the world's most powerful woman by Forbes magazine, will face opposition from the populist right-wing AfD party who have gained support, in part because of opposition to her migrant policy.
She acknowledged the threat from far-left and right wing parties today saying "This election will be difficult like no other election since the reunification".
In the wake of Brexit and the election of Donald Trump it could be a tight race, although polls are currently giving the incumbent Chancellor a comfortable approval rating.
This week outgoing president Barack Obama praised Ms Merkel's integrity and core values during a visit to Berlin.
He said: I wish I could be there to lighten her load somewhat, but she is tough.”
Obama said Ms Merkel, who has been in power since 2005, would face a number of “big burdens” if she were to run to become Germany’s chancellor again.
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