Merkel allies quit German parliament to allow conservatives to rebuild

FILE PHOTO: German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier speaks with German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer before the weekly German cabinet meeting at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, December 18, 2019. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse/File Photo

BERLIN (Reuters) - Two of outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel's closest political allies and most senior ministers will quit the German parliament to make way for a new generation that can rejuvenate her conservative party after its election defeat, they said.

The decision of Peter Altmaier, the economy minister, and Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, comes amid growing infighting within the conservative camp after Armin Laschet, another close Merkel ally, led it to defeat last month.