01 June 2010

German President Out Over Military Remarks

Germany's president has resigned over controversial deployment comments.

Germany's President Horst Koehler resigned on Monday after being criticised for appearing to link military deployments in Afghanistan with the country's economic interests.
His departure will add to the political woes of Angela Merkel. The German chancellor's party suffered an embarrassing state election loss in May and has garnered its lowest ratings in four years following the euro debt crisis and the unpopular deployments to Afghanistan.
The resignation, effective immediately, came a year into Mr Koehler's second term as the largely ceremonial head of state. Mrs Merkel's centre-Right alliance installed the former International Monetary Fund boss as president in 2004, and his departure is a symbolic blow.


By: Brant

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