Germany: Head of state steps down

[KuntaKinte]

A major political surprise in my country: Federal President Horst Köhler stands down from office.

He stated that the reason is his controversial statement on the German engagement in Afghanistan. He feels to be unfairly treated.
Last week, he said something about that a country that relies on exports as much as Germany does, sometimes has to defend its economic interests by military action (more or less), and a few newspapers, especially the SPIEGEL, jumped on it.

It's a non-reason of course, the next hours and days will tell what's really behind this.

[KuntaKinte]

Maybe he was just fed up with the job?

Definitely. He really was a bad president in conclusion, especially since his reelection. And not (just) because he's a conservative.

I have no clue how quickly a successor has to be elected.

30 days from now. So the parties will have to hurry up.

[KuntaKinte]

Well congratulations lefties, you just pushed one of the best men in Berlin out.
Be very proud.

If Köhler thought that the federal president was something like an inerrable monarch who must not be criticized, then he didn't understand how our Republic works, and it was high time he stepped down. 

[KuntaKinte]

Not that I had any problem with a female president in general, but really: What qualifies von der Leyen except of being a woman?

[KuntaKinte]

It's high time to get rid of this office anyway, in my eyes. Every 5 years Germany has to go through an episode of disgusting personal intrigues and party tactics, while everyone talks about the "dignity of presidency" and so on.

We should just let the president of the Bundesrat do the ceremonial job for his year in office.

[KuntaKinte]

Wtf Springer?

^^^^^^^^^

If Merkel loses Springer, she's done in the long run. I'm looking forward to the next weeks.