BERLIN — An often-awkward conservative ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel is to step down as Bavarian governor in favour of a younger rival, attempting to end a power struggle that has been an unwelcome distraction as Merkel tries to form a new government. Horst Seehofer has been leader of the Christian Social Union party and Bavaria’s governor since 2008. The CSU is the Bavaria-only sister to Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union, and one of three parties in Germany’s outgoing government. Seehofer said Monday he plans to step down as governor in next year’s first quarter and be succeeded by state finance minister Markus Soeder. Seehofer’s long-running rivalry with Soeder, 50, re-erupted — casting doubts on the CSU’s stability as Merkel and Seehofer struggle to put together a new government in Berlin.

Source: National Post December 04, 2017 09:14 UTC