GERMANY: Hamburg Mayor Ole von Beust stepping down becoming sixth Christian Democrat (CDU) state leader to leave office in last 10 months
Record ID:
721316
GERMANY: Hamburg Mayor Ole von Beust stepping down becoming sixth Christian Democrat (CDU) state leader to leave office in last 10 months
- Title: GERMANY: Hamburg Mayor Ole von Beust stepping down becoming sixth Christian Democrat (CDU) state leader to leave office in last 10 months
- Date: 19th July 2010
- Summary: HAMBURG, GERMANY (JULY 18, 2010) (REUTERS) **CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY** HAMBURG MAYOR OLE VON BEUST ARRIVING TO MAKE STATEMENT (SOUNDBITE) (German) HAMBURG MAYOR OLE VON BEUST, SAYING "Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to inform you that I'll be stepping down as mayor of Hamburg effective August 25, 2010." CAMERA OPERATOR FILMING (SOUNDBITE) (German) HAMBURG MAYOR OLE VON BEUST, SAYING "Of course the chancellor and party leader, Dr. Angela Merkel has been informed. I am extremely thankful to Mrs. Merkel's friendly advice and her understanding." PHOTOGRAPHER LOOKING AT PICTURES IN CAMERA (SOUNDBITE) (German) HAMBURG MAYOR OLE VON BEUST, SAYING "I believe over these years I accomplished a lot together with my political friends and the current coalition partner (the Greens). The global economic crisis has left Hamburg largely unscathed." REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (German) POSSIBLE SUCCESSOR AND CURRENT HAMBURG INTERIOR MINISTER, CHRISTOPH AHLHAUS, SAYING "Ole von Beust marked this city positively almost like no other post-war mayor and it is a huge challenge for the successor. I am very happy about the unanimous vote of the Hamburg CDU (Christian Democrats). This task is a big challenge which I would like to face with a lot of passion, effort and from the bottom of my heart but also with the necessary respect for the job."
- Embargoed: 3rd August 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Germany
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA8EFRUMM5LO7WVPQB1QT8GVNCU
- Story Text: German Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered another setback on Sunday (July 18) when Hamburg's popular mayor Ole von Beust resigned abruptly -- the sixth state leader in her conservative party to abandon ship within the last year.
The charismatic 55 year-old von Beust has been a pillar of strength for Merkel and her Christian Democrats (CDU) for the last decade in the left-leaning northern port city of Hamburg, one of Germany's 16 federal states.
The loss of yet another CDU state leader was an additional blow to Merkel at a time when opinion polls have tracked a steep erosion in support for her and her flailing centre-right coalition.
Many Germans fault Merkel and her government for failing to make tangible progress on badly needed economic and financial reforms as the budget deficit rose to record levels.
The departure of von Beust compounds Merkel's problems, analysts say, because it extends the party's loss of potentially strong, popular leaders and leaves her more isolated at the top.
"I'll be stepping down as mayor effective August 25," von Beust said in an address broadcast on national television, adding it was simply time for a change.
"We've accomplished a lot for Hamburg -- the global economic crisis has left Hamburg largely unscathed," von Beust added.
German media said fatigue was the main reason von Beust is leaving after nine years running Germany's second largest city.
Other CDU state leaders to leave in the last year include Thuringia state premier Dieter Althaus, Baden-Wuerttenberg's Guenther Oettinger, Christian Wulff of Lower Saxony, Hesse's Roland Koch and Juergen Ruettgers of North Rhine-Westphalia. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None