Merkel ties own political future to Europe

She said the 2013 election will be a vote not only on whether she and her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) should remain at Germany’s helm, but also on Germany's position in Europe.

In her “summer interview” on state broadcaster ZDF, she said that voters would be asked to decide “where does Europe stand and what ideas do we have about Europe.”

When asked whether she would lead the party in the election and stand for re-election as chancellor she said, “I have already said so, and must therefore not say it again.”