Merkel reelected as chairman of CDU party

German Chancellor and leader of the conservative Christian Democratic Union party CDU Angela Merkel waves after her speech at the CDU party convention in Essen, Germany, December 6, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

Therefore, Merkel called for a prohibition of full veil, saying that "for us it means 'show your face.' Therefore, the full veil is not appropriate, it should be forbidden."

Meanwhile, Merkel also noted that there is currently "a great pressure on fundamental freedoms in Europe."

She will, however, work hard to ensure that these fundamental freedoms remain preserved. Only then could Britain have access to the internal market, Merkel said with a view to Brexit.

Merkel had declared in November that she was ready to run for the fourth term in office in 2017 election. The announcement ended months of speculation at a time when Europe is plunged into uncertainty among rising populism.

If she wins for the fourth time in 2017, she has the chance to beat the record holder, her mentor Helmut Kohl, who served 16 years in office.