Andrea Nahles

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has told leaders of her party that she will not seek re-election as chairwoman at a conference in early December, a senior senior party source said.

Despite stepping down from her role as chairwoman of the Christian Democrats, Merkel maintains that she will remain as chancellor. 

Germany’s acting Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said on March 8 that he would not be a member of the new government under conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel who will lead a coalition with his Social Democrats (SPD).

Social Democratic Party leader Martin Schulz announced his resignation, DPA reported. Shortly after, the party's leadership announced that it supported the chairman of the SPD parliamentary group Andrea Nahles for the post. Her candidacy will be voted on by party members on April 22.

Negotiators for German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives and the center-left Social Democrats (SPD) reconvened on Monday to hammer out compromises on healthcare and labor policy, the stumbling blocks in the way of another "grand coalition."

Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) demanded on Jan. 22 concessions on immigration and healthcare from Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives in looming coalition talks that the center-left party voted for at the weekend.

Conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel, under pressure after three months of failing to form a new ruling coalition, on Dec. 31 vowed to address growing social divisions as she worked rapidly to build a stable German government.

The German government approved a law on Wednesday which stipulates that citizens of other EU member-states who have not worked in Germany will not be eligible to apply for full compensation for unemployment during the first five years of their stay in Germany, reported BTA, citing Associated Press.