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Merkel Rejects Proposal From Bavarian Ally to Reshuffle Cabinet

Merkel Rejects Proposal From Bavarian Ally to Reshuffle Cabinet

(Bloomberg) --

Chancellor Angela Merkel rejected a proposal from her Bavarian ally to reshuffle her cabinet this year, doubling down on a potential political standoff that could define her final act as German leader.

“I’ve already said that I work well with the ministers and that I don’t foresee a cabinet reshuffle – so there’s nothing to add to that today,” Merkel told reporters in Berlin on Thursday. It was the first time she directly responded to the proposal by the leader of the Bavarian Christian Social Union, Markus Soeder.

Soeder, the state premier in Bavaria, raised the the possibility this month, saying the coalition government led by Merkel needs a shakeup as it heads into new elections next year at the latest. The issue also involves who will succeed Merkel as chancellor.

To contact the reporter on this story: Patrick Donahue in Berlin at pdonahue1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Ben Sills at bsills@bloomberg.net, Michael Winfrey

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