"I have high hopes that the Social Democrats will find me an adversary before the next election," the 56-year-old Christian Democrat leader, who has been in her job since 2005 and was re-elected in October 2009, told the SAT1 television channel on Saturday.

Merkel said she was not concerned that opinion polls placed her behind potential Social Democrat candidates. "When campaigning comes round, I will put myself into it with enthusiasm," she said.

Two polls last month found German elites were disappointed with Merkel and the performance of her centre-right government.

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