The head of Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) has abandoned an expected bid to challenge Chancellor Angela Merkel in September’s general election, nominating former European Parliament speaker Martin Schulz instead.
Sigmar Gabriel, 57, who currently serves as vice-chancellor and economy minister in Merkel’s government, revealed the decision in media interviews, saying that his chances of victory would be dismal.
Speaking ahead of a party meeting in Berlin to news weekly Stern, Gabriel proposed Schulz, speaker in the Brussels parliament until last week, as a candidate.
Although Merkel’s conservative bloc enjoys a double-digit lead over the Social Democrats, Schulz – who must still confirm he is willing to run – was widely seen as a more promising contender than Gabriel.
“If I were to run, I would fail, and the SPD with me,” Gabriel said.
Asked by the Die Zeit newspaper whether he was stepping aside because of a poll showing that the party rank-and-file overwhelmingly believed Schulz would have a better chance in the general election, Gabriel said: “Yes. It is my responsibility as (party) chairman.”
Gabriel is part of Merkel’s loveless “grand coalition” government, as well as chairman of the SPD, which, like many of its European sister parties, is riven by disputes between its leftist and centrist wings.
“All the polls have shown that people don’t want a grand coalition any more. In people’s minds I stand for that. So Martin Schulz is the most suitable man,” one person at the SPD party meeting quoted Gabriel as saying.
Polls show Merkel’s conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) as the clear frontrunners over the SPD ahead of the September 24 poll, despite unease over her liberal asylum policy.
If confirmed, Schulz faces a very tough job beating Merkel.
However, an opinion poll conducted this month by the Emnid institute for the Bild newspaper showed that in a direct vote Schulz would win 38% versus 39% for Merkel, compared to a result of 27% for Gabriel and 46% for Merkel.
Schulz, who has spent most of his political career in Brussels, declared late last year that he wanted to turn his back on EU politics to focus on his home country but did not specify his ambitions.
Stern reported that Gabriel, 57, a former schoolteacher, would also offer to give up his chairmanship of the Social Democrats, a position he has held since 2009.
Gabriel is the longest serving leader of the SPD since former Chancellor Willy Brandt.
Gabriel told Stern and Die Zeit that he now aimed to become foreign minister, replacing Frank-Walter Steinmeier who is expected to be elected German president next month.
News website Spiegel Online said that Gabriel told SPD leaders yesterday that with his decision he wanted to ensure “the survival of the party”, which he has led since 2009 without ever presenting a viable alternative to Merkel, who took power in 2005.
Party sources told German news agency DPA that Brigitte Zypries, a former justice minister, would take over the economy brief.
Merkel, 62, announced in November that she would seek a fourth term at the helm of Europe’s top economy.
Her popularity has endured despite misgivings about her refugee stance, as voters look to a safe pair of hands in the wake of Britain’s vote to leave the European Union and the inauguration of Donald Trump as US president.
She has also been buoyed by steady economic growth, low unemployment and a dearth of viable challengers within her own party.
Gabriel had long hesitated to say whether he would carry the banner for the Social Democrats, who have seen their support plummet in Merkel’s shadow.
The news nevertheless came as a shock to political observers in Berlin.
The top-selling Bild had reported earlier this month that Gabriel had made up his mind to run for the top job, on the advice of former chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, 72.
Polls show that Merkel’s CDU are the top pick for the national election with around 37% support, followed at a distance by the SPD with about 20%.
An insurgent anti-immigration party, the AfD, is currently polling at around 15%.
Meanwhile the opposition Greens, who served in a centre-left coalition under Schroeder from 1998 to 2005, have indicated their willingness to join Merkel in government if they managed to security a majority together.