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Is this END for Merkel? Signs in Germany the Chancellor is FINALLY losing grip on power

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After eighteen years of being at the helm of the Christian Democratic Union, Angela Merkel could be on the brink of her last hurrah if her governing party’s grand coalition with the SPD is renewed on Sunday.

During Berlin’s convention on Monday, Mrs Merkel faced pressure from members of her own party who questioned her succession and the need for a stronger presence of CDU’s conservative wing in the party.

With no other choice but to buckle to demands, the German chancellor, who has been criticised for steering her party to the left, promoted a “new generation” of CDU members and even her rivals into key positions.

In further signs of her weakening grip on the party, Mrs Merkel was forced to push out long-term allies including Health Minister Hermann Grohe and Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere, in place for conservative members.

Angela Merkel
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Angela Merkel faces his last test

In their place, Mrs Merkel welcomed Jens Spahn, her biggest critic, as health minister in the next Cabinet to quell party rebellion.

And tipped to topple Mrs Merkel, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, was selected as the party’s new general secretary after party delegates approved another governing coalition.

Dubbed a “mini-Merkel” by German news media, Ms Kramp-Karrenbauer told her audience: “We want to be a strong Volkspartei, not a messageless mass movement that anyone can just latch onto, “ according to politics news site, Politico.co.uk.

She urged her delegates to focus less on what it means to be “conservative” and more on how to address fears of a globalised, digitised future.

Angela Merkel
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Annegret Kramp-Kartenbauer has been tipped to topple Merkel

Ms Kramp-Karrenbauer said: “We want to give answers, not only as a government and a parliamentary faction, but as a party.”

But Mrs Merkel remains defiant, and last month insisted she would “like to serve a full term”.

Mrs Merkel has faced an uphill struggle to save her carer after she failed to form a government in Germany’s general election.

With her future hanging in the balance, Mrs Merkel turned to her old allies, SPD, despite experiencing four painful years in a previous grand partnership.

The EU and its strongest anchor, Mrs Merkel, face crunch time on Sunday when SPD members vote on the final deal.