An arch-pragmatist, Mrs Merkel has no major policy or pet project to see through that would keep her in office. Mr Kohl was keen to see through the introduction of the euro.

The roles of UN Secretary-General and President of the European Council will both become available in 2017.

The appointment of a political figure of Mrs Merkel's stature could have a profound effect on either office, and lend it considerably more authority on the world stage.

In particular, if Mrs Merkel became President of the European Council, the body of national leaders that oversees the European Union, it could be seen as turning the job into a de facto President of the EU.

When the office was created in 2009, there was debate over how high-profile it should be. Tony Blair was, at one time, considered a candidate.

Suggestions that Mrs Merkel might want to succeed Ban Ki-moon as UN Secretary-General first emerged in May, in a report in a Luxembourg newspaper that got little attention, and was denied by Mrs Merkel's spokesman.

A successor for Mr Ban will be chosen in 2016. By UN convention it is the turn of a European.

When asked in a recent television interview if she would like to be UN Secretary-General in 2018, Mrs Merkel replied: “That will certainly not happen.”

If Mrs Merkel does resign as German chancellor, her successor is widely expected to be Ursula von der Leyen, the first woman to serve as German defence minister.

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