German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she planned to serve a full four-year term if re-elected and defended herself against a political attack by her Social Democratic challenger that she’s faltered on public infrastructure investment.
“I made clear when I announced my re-election bid that I would run for four years,” Merkel said in an interview with ARD television on Sunday, 10 weeks before the national election. A full fourth term would extend her chancellorship to 16 years through 2021.