Merkel has a problem with it

- German President Joachim Gauck (76) throws the towel down there, he announced on Monday in Bellevue palace in Berlin. That creates headaches for Chancellor Merkel, who has to find a suitable successor to the East German ex-minister.

'I had wanted a second term. But I respect the decision and thank the Head of State for his services ', responded CDU chairman Merkel. The main reason not to be for five years, head of the largest European country is obvious: 'I can not guarantee if I still have the same energy and vitality in the coming years,' said Gauck.

The non-party theologian is popular with our eastern neighbors. He sometimes seemed more a 'Realpolitiker' than Merkel as postdoctoral physicist. While Merkel over last year's one million Arab asylum seekers left the country, Gauck said: 'Our hearts are big, but our capacity is limited. '
  
    
     
      
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The man from Rostock tried in the refugee crisis to be the voice of the middle of society and spoke in favor of a greater role of the Federal Republic on the world stage. Vice Chancellor Gabriel (SPD): 'He was a president of all Germans, with absolute personal integrity. '

Gauck was previously nominated by a phalanx of right-wing parties in government and the leftist opposition. But it is doubtful whether it will succeed even once. Next year there are elections in Germany and Merkel would be elected a fourth time. It is unlikely that the leftist ruling party SPD her awards success. Therefore, the Social Democrats will nominate its own candidate.

That could be Frank-Walter Steinmeier (60), the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who is highly regarded in both the public and abroad. At the CDU is called the 73-year-old Wolfgang Schaeuble, the experienced treasurer. Also Norbert Lammert (67) the ever neutral chairman of the Bundestag, has a chance.