German Economy Minister Michael Glos has resigned and will be succeeded by a fellow Bavarian conservative, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, party sources told SPIEGEL ONLINE. The chaotic handling of his resignation has prompted criticism of Chancellor Angela Merkel. Germany's Economy Minister Michael Glos has resigned following months of criticism of his handling of the financial crisis and, according to SPIEGEL ONLINE sources, he will be replaced by fellow Bavarian politician Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg.Glos is reported to have been frustrated at being sidelined in the handling of the financial crisis. Glos, a member of the Christian Social Union (CSU), the Bavarian sister party to Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats, had tendered his resignation on Saturday but his request was initially refused by CSU leader Horst Seehofer. Merkel too is reported to have rejected his resignation at first, which effectively left the running of a major German ministry in limbo at a time when Germany is facing its worst economic downturn since World War II. That prompted criticism of Merkel's leadership by opposition parties and by the center-left Social Democrats, who share power with Merkel's conservatives.
German Economy Minister Michael Glos has resigned and will be succeeded by a fellow Bavarian conservative, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, party sources told SPIEGEL ONLINE. The chaotic handling of his resignation has prompted criticism of Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Germany's Economy Minister Michael Glos has resigned following months of criticism of his handling of the financial crisis and, according to SPIEGEL ONLINE sources, he will be replaced by fellow Bavarian politician Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg.
Glos is reported to have been frustrated at being sidelined in the handling of the financial crisis. Glos, a member of the Christian Social Union (CSU), the Bavarian sister party to Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats, had tendered his resignation on Saturday but his request was initially refused by CSU leader Horst Seehofer.
Merkel too is reported to have rejected his resignation at first, which effectively left the running of a major German ministry in limbo at a time when Germany is facing its worst economic downturn since World War II. That prompted criticism of Merkel's leadership by opposition parties and by the center-left Social Democrats, who share power with Merkel's conservatives.
Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, a rising star in Bavarian politics, will be tapped as Germany's next economics minister. Zu Guttenberg will have the unenviable task of guiding Germany out of a deep recession. Zu Guttenberg, 37, will take over the top post at Germany's economy ministry, Berlin sources said Monday, Feb. 9, eight months before the German general election. He would replace Michael Glos, 64, who suddenly said Saturday he wanted to leave after tension with Bavarian Premier Horst Seehofer, the leader of both men's Bavaria-only Christian Social Union (CSU). The CSU is a key partner in Chancellor Angela Merkel's ruling coalition.
Zu Guttenberg, 37, will take over the top post at Germany's economy ministry, Berlin sources said Monday, Feb. 9, eight months before the German general election.
He would replace Michael Glos, 64, who suddenly said Saturday he wanted to leave after tension with Bavarian Premier Horst Seehofer, the leader of both men's Bavaria-only Christian Social Union (CSU). The CSU is a key partner in Chancellor Angela Merkel's ruling coalition.
The confusion surrounding the resignation of German Economy Minister Michael Glos has highlighted weaknesses and divisions in Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives seven months before a general election, say media commentators. Michael Glos never wanted the job as German economy minister and made no secret of that fact from the start in November 2005, when he was browbeat into taking the position after Bavaria's then-governor Edmund Stoiber decided he didn't want to do it himself. Some say Merkel's leadership was lacking in the recent cabinet confusion. Glos never really came to grips with the job and his frustration at being repeatedly ignored by Chancellor Angela Merkel intensified when the financial crisis engulfed the German banking system late last year. She worked out all the rescue and stimulus packages with Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück rather than with him. Glos, a prominent member of the Christian Social Union (CSU), the Bavarian sister party to Merkel's Christian Democrats, also didn't get on with the imperious new leader of the CSU, Horst Seehofer, who has been trying to revamp the CSU following its poor performance in a regional election last September.
The confusion surrounding the resignation of German Economy Minister Michael Glos has highlighted weaknesses and divisions in Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives seven months before a general election, say media commentators.
Michael Glos never wanted the job as German economy minister and made no secret of that fact from the start in November 2005, when he was browbeat into taking the position after Bavaria's then-governor Edmund Stoiber decided he didn't want to do it himself.
Some say Merkel's leadership was lacking in the recent cabinet confusion. Glos never really came to grips with the job and his frustration at being repeatedly ignored by Chancellor Angela Merkel intensified when the financial crisis engulfed the German banking system late last year. She worked out all the rescue and stimulus packages with Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück rather than with him.
Glos, a prominent member of the Christian Social Union (CSU), the Bavarian sister party to Merkel's Christian Democrats, also didn't get on with the imperious new leader of the CSU, Horst Seehofer, who has been trying to revamp the CSU following its poor performance in a regional election last September.
[System.Is.Broken Alert] In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
