Germany's Social Democrats nominated Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier to challenge Angela Merkel for the chancellorship next year. The news coincided with party chairman Kurt Beck's unexpected resignation.

Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD) reshuffled its leadership a year ahead of federal elections, during a meeting of top party leaders near Berlin Sunday, Sept 7.

 

The party nominated Steinmeier to face incumbent Merkel in September 2009 and summoned back as chairman veteran Franz Muentefering.

 

Making the announcement in Werder, south-west of Berlin, Steinmeier said Kurt Beck, the long-serving premier of Rhineland-Palatinate, who has led the party since 2006, had resigned as chairman.