Queen of Europe, maybe next the world

Chancellor Angela Merkel with a member of Germany's World Cup-winning football team, Lukas Podolski, in Rio de Janeiro.

Angela Merkel does not want to complete her full term as German Chancellor and plans to resign before elections in 2017, according to reports.

The German leader aims to become the first Chancellor to leave of her own accord since 1949 and is interested in a new role as United Nations secretary-general, or European Council president, Der Spiegel magazine reported.

Such a move would shock Germany, where Merkel remains exceptionally popular with voters after almost nine years in power, and would be felt across Europe, where her position as the continent's most powerful leader is undisputed.

In last year's elections, Merkel pledged that she would serve a full term. Her spokesman and party colleagues have denied speculation that she may leave office early.

But Der Spiegel, which is usually well informed about German politics, claims it is well known among her colleagues that she does not want a fourth term and is considering quitting ahead of the 2017 elections.

"Just about everyone around her ... is convinced she will voluntarily leave office," the magazine said, in a special report ahead of her 60th birthday this week. She is said to be keen to avoid following the former chancellors Helmut Kohl, who suffered a humiliating defeat in 1998, and Konrad Adenauer, who was forced out in 1963 by a coup within his own party.

The positions of UN secretary-general and European Council president will both become open in 2017. The appointment of a political figure of Merkel's stature could have a profound effect on either office and lend it considerably more authority on the world stage.

Gallery: Brazil's defeat to Germany in faces

Image 1 of 11: A Brazil soccer fan cries as Germany scores against her team at a semifinal World Cup match as she watches the game on a live telecast in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Photo / AP

In particular, if Merkel became head of the body of national leaders that oversees the European Union, it could be seen as turning the job into a de facto president of the EU. When the office was created in 2009, there was debate over how high profile it should be. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair was, at one time, considered a candidate.

Suggestions that Merkel might want to succeed Ban Ki Moon as UN secretary-general first emerged in May, and were denied by Merkel's spokesman. A successor for Ban will be chosen in 2016. By convention, it is the turn of a European.

When asked in a recent interview if she would like to be UN secretary-general in 2018, Merkel said: "That will certainly not happen. If Merkel does resign, her successor is widely expected to be Ursula von der Leyen, the first woman to serve as German Defence Minister.