Story highlights Angela Merkel says, "The coming election will be difficult"Chancellor notes pressure as a result of refugee crisis, Brexit vote(CNN) One of the world's most powerful leaders has announced her decision to run for office again. German Chancellor Angela Merkel put an end to months of speculation about her political future by saying she would seek a fourth term in next year's federal elections. "I pondered a lot about it," Merkel told reporters at a news conference in Berlin. "The decision for a fourth term after 11 years is anything ... (but) trivial, not for the country and not for the party, and I say it consciously also for me personally." "The coming election will be difficult," Merkel said.

Source: CNN November 20, 2016 20:42 UTC