Bloomberg reports, citing officials familiar with the matter

The report says that that Merkel believes that her succession plan has unraveled as Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer ("AKK") flounders her position as CDU party head, and that she now expects AKK to step side instead. Adding that Merkel has decided that AKK - her supposedly chosen successor as chancellor - is not up to the job.

Looks like we'll have more of Merkel to deal with in the coming years. How delightful.

Merkel