Martin Schulz has quit as chairman of Germany’s Social Democrats with immediate effect, saying it is time for a “renewal” of the centre-left party. Martin Schulz has quit as chairman of Germany’s Social Democrats with immediate effect, saying it is time for a “renewal” of the centre-left party. He told reporters the party’s leadership had unanimously nominated his choice for a successor, parliamentary caucus leader Andrea Nahles. It is being put to a ballot of the Social Democrats’ 460,000 members. If members reject the coalition, Mrs Merkel’s only realistic options would be to form a minority government or seek fresh elections.

Source: Irish Independent February 13, 2018 18:56 UTC