Germany’s Social Democrat Party (SPD) leader Martin Schulz has resigned from his position, marking the end of a precipitous fall from grace, described as “one of the more spectacular in Germany’s post-war period.”
The Express warns that his resignation, and the SPD’s turmoil, signal increased risk of new elections. Such an outcome would be the nail in the coffin of the tenuous grand coalition agreed to by SPD leadership and Chancellor Angela Merkel’s CDU/CSU alliance.
Three powerful SPD regional associations have reportedly declared they will block any attempts to appoint Andrea Nahles, who has been nominated as interim leader of the SPD until an election can be held.
Against the backdrop of the leadership drama, SPD members will begin voting next week on whether to join a new coalition under Merkel.
Martin Schulz might like to prove to be a man of principle and to stick to his words. But in a national crisis like this, bending the principle a bit could be beneficial for the country. At any rate, the SPD would now need to put its house in order first now, before the coalition agreement could be worked out.
A top-notch country like Germany couldn’t afford to be without government after nearly half a year of election.