German Chancellor Angela Merkel has refused to seek re-election for the tenth time as chairman of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). She stated this at a meeting of party leaders, Bild reports , citing several sources in the party. This information was confirmed by sources from DPA, Reuters, BBC and Bloomberg.

According to the DPA agency, which cites sources in party circles, she wants to retain the post of chancellor. However, as Bloomberg notes, the decision to step down as chairman of the CDU is “a dramatic sign of her weakening power, which will raise questions about her power as chancellor.”

The decision was made after Merkel’s party, despite winning, showed a “historic drop” in support in the local parliamentary elections in the federal state of Hesse - by 10%. On October 14, the Christian Social Union, with which the CDU is in a coalition, showed the same deterioration in the results in the elections in Bavaria.

Elections for the chairman of the CDU are due in December. Previously it was expected that Merkel would participate in them.

Merkel took over as chair of the CDU in 2000 and was re-elected for a ninth time in 2016. She became chancellor of Germany in 2005.

Kin Cheung / AP In first place in the ranking of the most influential people in the world according to Forbes, ... Sergei Guneyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP In second place in the ranking is Russian President Vladimir Putin Manuel Balce Ceneta / AP In third place is the American President Donald Trump Kay Nietfeld/dpa via AP The fourth place in the ranking was taken by German Chancellor Angela Merkel Ted S. Warren / AP The top 5 in the ranking is completed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos Andrew Medichini / AP In sixth place in the ranking is Pope Francis Rick Wilking / Reuters In seventh place ranking - Microsoft founder Bill Gates Christophe Ena / AP In eighth place in the ranking is Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed ibn ... Jonathan Brady / Reuters In ninth place in the ranking is Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi Elijah Nouvelage / Reuters Rounding out the top 10 most influential people Google founder Larry Page

Merkel will resign as chairman of the Christian Democratic Union