Schulz – the SPD candidate for the position of chancellor

On 24th January 2017, during the session of the Social Democratic faction in the Bundestag, the SPD chairman Sigmar Gabriel announced that he would not stand for the position of chancellor and would also step down as the party’s chair. Martin Schulz, the former president of the European Parliament, is set to become the party’s candidate for this position in the parliamentary election in September and the new chair of the party. Gabriel said that he wanted to resign as the minister for economic affairs and energy and take over the position of the head of German diplomacy for the remainder of the current term.

Brigitte Zypries (SPD), who was the justice minister from 2002-2009, could replace him in the ministry. The party’s convention, during which the new chairman and the new candidate for the position of chancellor will be approved, will be held earlier than scheduled – in four weeks’ time instead of in May.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Schulz, Merkel, and Gabriel: The ebb and flow of electoral politics http://www.europeansources.info/record/schulz-merkel-and-gabriel-the-ebb-and-flow-of-electoral-politics/

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

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