Ex-EU Parliament President Schulz to take on Merkel in German elections

German media reported on the 24 January 2017 that SPD leaders chose ex-President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz to be their candidate to run for chancellor against Angela Merkel in federal elections in Germany in September 2017.

The formal decision by the SPD leadership (the 'Vorstand') to endorse Martin Schulz was taken on the 29 January 2017.

One opinion poll published on the 6 February 2017 showed that the SPD was ahead of the CDU/CSU for the first time in the 2017 election campaign.

• Primary Source

Politico, 24.01.17: SPD’s Sigmar Gabriel won’t challenge Merkel for chancellorship http://www.politico.eu/article/sigmar-gabriel-wont-challenge-angela-merkel-for-chancellorship-media/

ESO: Background information: Sigmar Gabriel gaining support for chancellor bid http://www.europeansources.info/record/sigmar-gabriel-gaining-support-for-chancellor-bid/

ESO: Key Source: German federal election, 2017 http://www.europeansources.info/record/german-federal-election-2017/

ESO: Background information: Martin Schulz chooses Berlin over Brussels http://www.europeansources.info/record/martin-schulz-chooses-berlin-over-brussels/

The Local.de, 24.01.17: Vice Chancellor decides not to challenge Merkel in election https://www.thelocal.de/20170124/vice-chancellor-decides-not-to-challenge-merkel-in-election

Deutsche Welle, 24.01.17: German Economy Minister Gabriel clears way for new election challenger to Merkel http://www.dw.com/en/german-economy-minister-gabriel-clears-way-for-new-election-challenger-to-merkel/a-37255311

The Wall Street Journal, 24.01.17: Germany’s Social Democrats Nominate Schulz to Face Merkel in Election http://www.wsj.com/articles/schulz-becomes-likely-social-democrat-candidate-for-german-chancellor-1485280136

Deutsche Welle, 25.01.17: [Opinion] Full steam ahead to challenge Merkel http://dw.com/p/2WMVI

EUObserver, 25.01.17: Schulz to run against Merkel in Germany https://euobserver.com/beyond-brussels/136663

Deutsche Welle, 24.01.17: Martin Schulz - from 'pig' to top politician http://dw.com/p/2WL3H

The Independent, 25.01.17: Angela Merkel could be ousted by anti-Brexit hardliner part-way through negotiations http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/angela-merkel-martin-schulz-brexit-german-elections-polls-a7544686.html

Euronews, 24.01.17: SPD nominates Schulz to take on Merkel for German Chancellor http://www.euronews.com/2017/01/24/spd-nominates-schulz-to-take-on-merkel-for-german-chancellor

Politico, 25.01.17: 5 ways Martin Schulz plans to dethrone Angela Merkel http://www.politico.eu/article/5-ways-martin-schulz-can-dethrone-angela-merkel-german-elections-september/

Politico, 25.01.17: Sigmar Gabriel exits stage left http://www.politico.eu/article/sigmar-gabriels-long-goodbye-siggi-pop-sdp-german-elections-angela-merkel-martin-schulz/

Euro|Topics: Debates, January 2017: SPD pits Schulz against Merkel / Does SPD have a chance of winning with Schulz? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/173290/does-spd-have-a-chance-of-winning-with-schulz

The Economist, 25.01.17: Slim chance. Germany’s Social Democrats pick Martin Schulz as leader http://www.economist.com/news/europe/21715589-they-will-probably-still-lose-angela-merkel-germanys-social-democrats-pick-martin-schulz

Deutsche Welle, 25.01.17: Seven things to know about the Social Democratic shake-up http://dw.com/p/2WNl4

EurActiv, 27.01.17: Sigmar Gabriel, Germany’s unexpected foreign minister http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/sigmar-gabriel-germanys-unexpected-foreign-minister/

EurActiv, 26.01.17: Martin Schulz’s rapid rise from Brussels man to chancellor candidate http://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/martin-schulzs-rapid-rise-from-brussels-man-to-chancellor-candidate/

EurActiv, 29.01.17: Martin Schulz bashes Trump in campaign to unseat Merkel as German chancellor http://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/schulz-bashes-trump-in-campaign-to-unseat-merkel-as-germanys-chancellor/

Politico, 29.01.17: Schulz comes out swinging http://www.politico.eu/article/martin-schultz-comes-out-swinging-germany-elections-spd/

Deutsche Welle, 29.01.17: Germany's Social Democrats nominate Martin Schulz as top candidate to run against Merkel http://dw.com/p/2WacL

Spiegel Online International, 01.02.17: Meet the Man Who Will Challenge Merkel http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/martin-schulz-could-present-serious-challenge-to-angela-merkel-in-german-election-a-1132362.html

Deutsche Welle, 02.02.17: Schulz overtakes Merkel in opinion poll as favorite for German chancellor http://dw.com/p/2Wsk5

The Local.de, 06.02.17: Social Democrats leap ahead of Merkel’s party in new poll https://www.thelocal.de/20170206/social-democrats-overtake-merkels-party-in-new-poll

Politico, 13.02.17: Schulz’s run for chancellor lures voters to the ballot box http://www.politico.eu/article/schulzs-run-for-chancellor-lures-voters-to-the-ballot-box/

Blog: LSE EuroppBlog, 15.02.17: ‘Straight outta Würselen’ and straight into the German Chancellery? Martin Schulz and the SPD’s resurgence http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2017/02/15/martin-schulz-and-the-spd-resurgence/

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