Germany’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) leader Sigmar Gabriel is set to put forward former EU President Martin Schulz as the party’s nominee for Chancellor, German media reported on Tuesday.
Schulz would be facing German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has been the head of the government for four terms, in elections on September 24.
Gabriel was reported by German daily Die Zeit as saying that he would put forward former European Parliament President Martin Schulz to take his place as SPD party chairman and candidate for chancellor.
The newspaper also reported that Gabriel would give up his role as Economy Minister and seek the Foreign Minister position, which is to be vacated by Frank-Walter Steinmeier in March.
Reports have suggested that Parliamentary State Secretary Brigitte Zypries is to take over Gabriel’s position as Economics Minister.
In an interview with Stern magazine, Gabriel reportedly said: “If I was to step forward (for the chancellorship), I would fail and the SPD would fail with me.”
Schulz, Gabriel reportedly said, would “clearly stand a better chance of winning.”
Germany’s Environment Minister and SPD member Barbara Hendricks said she was surprised by Gabriel’s decision, which she said he had made “from a position of strength.”
However, polls have suggested that Gabriel has trailed badly behind Merkel in approval ratings.
Source: Deutsche Welle
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