This is the bleak warning from Felix Schoenherr of the Werte Union – a group within Ms Merkel's Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) party which has been critical of her leadership. He points to the party's election woes in recent years and claims there is a real risk the CDU could lose its stronghold on German politics. When asked whether there was a risk that the party could no longer be in charge in Germany, Mr Schoenherr told Express.co.uk: "Yes. I think so."