Merkel unavailable for political office after chancellorship

German Chancellor Angela Merkel looks on as she attends a news conference at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, May 16, 2019. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch
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FABRIZIO BENSCH(Reuters)
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany’s Angela Merkel said on Thursday she would be unavailable for any further political office after serving out her fourth term as chancellor, dismissing speculation that she could take a big European Union job in Brussels.
“I am not available for any further political office, regardless of where it is – including in Europe,” Merkel told a joint news conference with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
(Writing by Paul Carrel; Editing by Michelle Martin)