Merkel Succession Beckons After Von der Leyen’s Defense Posting

With less than 72 hours to go before Germany’s next cabinet was unveiled, Ursula von der Leyen was holding out for a higher-profile job.

Fresh from losing the Labor Ministry in a bargain between Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Social Democratic Party, the trained physician defied Merkel and refused to take over the Health Ministry, according to a person with direct knowledge who asked not to be identified because the talks were private. Merkel gave in and agreed to make her Germany’s first woman defense minister in the government presented on Dec. 16.