Speaking Sunday, Merkel specified that the resurgence of a political discourse characterized by “hate” was one of the reasons she had decided to run again. She also lowered expectations by saying it was “absurd” to believe that she alone would be able to turn the populist momentum. “No person alone, not even the most experienced, can turn things to good in Germany, Europe and the world, especially not a chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany,” she said.

…Few consider the right-wing Alternative for Germany party strong enough to become a real threat to Merkel’s ambitions for a fourth term. In the long run, though, Merkel’s decision not to champion traditional conservative policy stances could have a lasting effect on German politics.

Her party used to test the limits of how far to the right a German conservative party can go. That is no longer the case.

How Angela Merkel, a conservative, became the ‘leader of the free world’ – The Washington Post

hmmm