Angela Merkel to Step Down as German Chancellor in 2021 On Monday, Merkel also announced she would stand down from chairmanship of the Christian Democratic Union party. She has held that role for over
18 years. Merkel has been the Chancellor of Germany since 2005. Her announcement is a sign of weakened power within her own party and decreasing popularity
in Germany. Parties under Merkel's coalition, the CDU and the Social Democratic Party, suffered big losses in a recent regional election. Angela Merkel, via news conference Merkel went on to say that the role of Chancellor has been a "very challenging and fulfilling task."