DUSSELDORF: German conservative politician Armin Laschet, who was at one point seen as a front runner to become the country’s next chancellor, formally resigned from his office as premier of North Rhine Westphalia on Monday morning.
The 60-year-old had announced before national elections in September that he would be standing down as state premier, even if he didn’t become Germany’s next chancellor.
Laschet will remain acting state premier until he takes his seat as a member of the incoming German parliament, or Bundestag, in its inaugural session on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, North Rhine Westphalia Transport Minister Hendrik Wuest is expected to be elected the new state premier in a special session of the state parliament.
With Laschet as its candidate for chancellor, the CDU and its Bavarian allies, the Christian Social Union (CSU), achieved a historically bad result in the elections.
They lost out to the Social Democrats, whose candidate Olaf Scholz is negotiating with two other parties to form a centre-left government after 16 years under centre-right Chancellor Angela Merkel.
The 60-year-old had earlier announced he would be standing down as state premier before the Bundestag elections, even if he didn’t become Germany’s next chancellor.
Laschet is due to remain acting state premier until he takes his seat as a member of the incoming German parliament, or Bundestag, in its inaugural session on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, North Rhine Westphalia Transport Minister Hendrik Wuest is expected to be elected the new state premier in a special session of the state parliament.
The 46-year-old was elected CDU state leader in North Rhine-Westphalia on Saturday. With Laschet as its candidate for chancellor, the CDU and its Bavarian allies, the Christian Social Union (CSU), achieved a historically bad result in the Bundestag elections.
Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel will travel to Glasgow to take part in the World Climate Conference there from October 31, government spokesperson Steffen Seibert said on Monday. He added the German environment minister will attend the event as well, and details will be announced later. – dpa
