Former European Parliament president Martin Schulz reacts after his speech at a meeting of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) at their party headquarters in Berlin, Germany, January 29, 2017, were Schulz was officially appointed SPD party leader. (Source: REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke) Former European Parliament president Martin Schulz reacts after his speech at a meeting of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) at their party headquarters in Berlin, Germany, January 29, 2017, were Schulz was officially appointed SPD party leader. (Source: REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke)Leaders of Germany’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) endorsed former European Parliament President Martin Schulz on Sunday as their candidate to run against conservative Angela Merkel in September’s national election, sources familiar with the decision said. About 35 members of the party’s executive committee voted unanimously for Schulz, 61, to become the party’s new leader and its chancellor candidate, the sources said. Schulz was a member of the European Parliament for over 20 years but is not a member of the German Bundestag.

Source: Indian Express January 29, 2017 14:15 UTC