BERLIN - The German Chancellor, Dr Helmut Kohl, has decided to defy his critics by standing for a record fifth term in office next year in the hope of leading Germany into the next century, according to a newspaper report yesterday, Den is Staunton reports from Berlin. The mass circulation Bild am Sonntag claimed that Dr Kohl would make a public announcement to this effect after his annual fasting holiday in April.
The chancellor has come under intense pressure from within his ruling Christian Democratic Union to end a welter of speculation about his future by making a clear public statement of his intentions. He angrily dismissed a report last week that he was suffering from cancer and had undergone two secret operations since 1992. He told the Frankfurter Allgemeine at the weekend: "I am not suffering from cancer, thank God, but I think that people who use such wicked methods to bring down a political opponent only damage themselves."
Dr Kohl (66) refused to confirm that he would seek another term as chancellor but he hinted strongly that he was not yet ready to pass the reins of power to any of his ambitious lieutenants.