Merkel, 62, is Europe’s most influential leader, a political centrist in the vein of President Obama, her close and longtime ally. Merkel on Sunday said she was flattered by those calling for her to assume the global mantle of liberal democracy following Obama’s departure. To that, Merkel has no answer.”When Merkel first took office in 2005, George W. Bush was in the White House, Tony Blair inhabited No. The last one standing is Merkel, a pragmatist raised in former communist East Germany , a physicist who became Europe’s decider. "Germany can't afford a further term in office by Angela Merkel,” AfD chairwomen Frauke Petry tweeted on Sunday.

Source: Washington Post November 20, 2016 20:21 UTC