Germany's Kramp-Karrenbauer wants Merkel to stay until 2021

German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer attends the weekly cabinet meeting in Berlin, Germany, November 6, 2019. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

BERLIN (Reuters) - There is no reason for German Chancellor Angela Merkel to leave office before her planned departure in 2021, her protegee and would-be successor Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said as they both face criticism from fellow Christian Democrats.

Party veteran Friedrich Merz ripped into Merkel after the Christian Democratic Party (CDU) slumped in a state vote last month. He said it was "simply not on" for the ruling coalition to carry on as it is until national elections due in 2021.