BERLIN (AP) — Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman says the German leader has no plans to reshuffle her Cabinet after a one-time rival who narrowly lost the race for her party's leadership hinted he'd be interested in joining the government.

Merkel's Christian Democratic Union is trying to prevent internal divisions after Merkel ally Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer narrowly defeated Friedrich Merz to succeed the chancellor as party leader. Merz is popular with the party's conservative right wing.

Asked by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung daily whether he'd be interested in becoming a minister, Merz said he'd have the confidence to do so "because of my experience in business and politics."

Merkel spokesman Steffen Seibert was asked Wednesday whether Merkel plans a reshuffle soon to make space for Merz. He replied: "The chancellor doesn't plan a Cabinet reshuffle."