- Title: Germany's Social Democrats nominate Schulz as chancellor candidate
- Date: 24th January 2017
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (FILE - FEBRUARY 9, 2016) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** EXTERIOR OF FRANCE MINISTRY OF ECONOMY AND FINANCE VARIOUS OF BRIGITTE ZYPRIES (GREEN JACKET), CURRENT DEPUTY ECONOMY MINISTER AND A FORMER JUSTICE MINISTER, WHO WILL BE GABRIEL'S SUCCESSOR AS ECONOMY MINISTER
- Embargoed: 7th February 2017 19:22
- Keywords: SPD Social Democrats Berlin election Merkel September Schulz foreign minister
- Location: BERLIN, GERMANY & PARIS, FRANCE
- City: BERLIN, GERMANY & PARIS, FRANCE
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA00260FY4W7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Germany's Social Democrats have nominated former European Parliament President Martin Schulz to run against conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel in an election in September, Schulz and party leader Sigmar Gabriel said on Tuesday (January 24).
The party will vote on the nomination on Sunday, when Schulz will also present the party's election programme, they said.
Gabriel said the party has also agreed that he should replace Frank-Walter Steinmeier as foreign minister.
Asked why he was not the SPD's candidate for chancellor, Gabriel, pointing to Schulz, told reporters "because he has the better chances."
Schulz said that Germany needed a "new leadership" during these "difficult times" and that "there is a deep cut going through society, not just in our country but in other countries in Europe."
"European societies are drifting apart. After the presidential election in the United States one may say that society is drifting apart across the world," said Schulz. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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