Merkel's coalition woes pile up as Seehofer steps down German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative camp has been rocked by a leadership tussle within its Bavarian sister party, just as she is struggling to forge a new coalition government. Horst Seehofer, head of the Christian Social Union (CSU), has announced he will step down as premier of the wealthy southern state in early 2018, leaving the post to regional finance minister Markus Soeder. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES