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Former EU Leader to Face off against Merkel in Election

Former EU Leader to Face off against Merkel in Election
folder_openGermany access_time7 years ago
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Local Editor

After years spent honing his political skills in Brussels, former EU parliament head Martin Schulz has returned home to enter the race for Germany's top job, seen as the only man popular enough to challenge Angela Merkel.


Former EU Leader to Face off against Merkel in Election

In a surprise move, Social Democrats' leader Sigmar Gabriel on Tuesday said he was standing aside so the 61-year-old Schulz could replace him as chairman of the SPD and run as its candidate for chancellor.

The former bookseller - once likened to a Nazi camp supervisor by Silvio Berlusconi - had only announced two months ago that he was stepping down as head of the EU's only elected body to return to politics in his native country.

But with poll ratings consistently dwarfing those of the temperamental Gabriel, vice-chancellor in Merkel's coalition government, career politician Schulz was destined for a swift return to the main stage.

Despite his image as the ultimate Brussels insider, a December survey put Schulz's approval rating among Germans at 57 percent - matching that of the untouchable Merkel.

While polls have long given Merkel's conservative block a comfortable lead over the SPD, Gabriel said Schulz "would clearly have a better chance" in the September 24 general elections.

Observers say Schulz owes his enduring popularity in part to the fact that he managed to maintain a high profile at home during his years on the European scene, while staying above the rough-and-tumble of daily domestic politics.

Setting the tone for his campaign in a country where the euro-sceptic, anti-migrant AfD party is on track to become the third-largest party, Schulz on Tuesday vowed to fight against the easy answers of populists.

"With me, there will be no Europe bashing. There will be no hounding of minorities," he said.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team

 

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