(VOVworld) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced Sunday to the Christian Democratic Union that she wants to run for a fourth term in the 2017 election, ending months of speculation about her decision.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on October 24th (Photo: VNA)

Merkel, 62, has served as Germany’s Chancellor since 2005. If she wins next year’s election, Merkel will match the record of 16 years in office set by former Chancellor Helmut Kohl.