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Martin Schulz to quit post as European Parliament head, intends to return to German politics
Martin Schulz has announced that he will not seek a third term as European Parliament chief. Instead, he will return to Germany, where he is rumored to be the possible Social Democratic contender for the Chancellery.
In what he called a "difficult decision," German Social Democratic politician Martin Schulz said on Thursday that he will not run for a third term as president of the European Parliament.
Instead, he intends to run to represent his home state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) in the Bundestag - Germany's lower house of parliament.
During his five years as president of the European Parliament, Schulz said he had achieved a lot in his efforts to increase the visibility and credibility of European policy.
The outgoing European Parliament president said he will remain closely linked to the European project, even if he's only able to implement it from Berlin.
"European integration is, in my opinion, the biggest civilization project of the past centuries," Schulz said.
"I want to make a contribution in closing the gaps between countries."
Responding to the news on Thurday, President of the EU Commission Jean-Claude Juncker said he was "disappointed" at Schulz's departure from European politics.
Juncker previously expressed his wish for Schulz to remain at the head of the European Parliament, even though the Social Democrat's term of office was actually due to end early next year.
Following an agreement with the Christian Democrats, a politician from the faction of the European People's Party (EPP) is due to take over office for the second half of the legislature. Nevertheless, it had been speculated again and again whether there could be a back door route to enable Schulz to remain in the post.
Chancellor material?
Media speculation that Schulz could become the Social Democratic's (SPD) candidate for chancellor in next year's German elections also left Schulz's move from Brussels to Berlin largely expected.
Speaking in the Belgian capital on Thursday, however, Schulz gave no further details on whether he might run as Merkel's rival.
Europscepticism and right-wing populism is on the up, as is the support for the National Front's (FN) Marine Le Pen in France and the AfD's Frauke Petry in Germany
Analysts have also said he could seek the post of foreign minister - a position that looks to be vacated by Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who is likely be chosen as Germany's next president.
Many supporters within the SPD believe Schulz's experience in the European arena would stand him in good stead for the role.
SPD Deputy Ralf Stegner said on Thursday that Schulz would be "a tremendous asset to the German Bundestag."
After Merkel announced on Sunday that she would be running for a fourth term in office, all eyes are now on the Social Democrats who are expected to confirm their candidate by the end of January.
Should he be willing to take on the task, however, Schulz might not be alone, with SPD leader and German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel also expected to throw his hat in the ring.
According to a poll published on Thursday, Schulz would have more chance than Gabriel of succeeding Merkel as chancellor next year.
Some 42 percent of participants said Schulz would be a promising opposition to Merkel, while 35 percent backed Gabriel. Among SPD supporters, results were clearer, with 54 percent backing Schulz and 41 percent favoring Gabriel.
European career
Born in Hehlrath, close to the German-Dutch-Belgian borders, Schulz was set up from birth for a job at the helm of the European Union, at least geographically and linguistically. Fluent in German, Dutch and French, he also speaks English, Spanish and Italian.
He began his political career at the age of 19 when he joined the SPD and within 12 years was elected NRW's youngest mayor - a post which he held for more than a decade.
After being elected as a member of the European Parliament in 1994, Schulz quickly rose through the ranks in Brussels, becoming head of the German group of Social Democrats MEPs in 2000 and nine years later the chairman of the Social Democrats group in the European Parliament.
In January 2012, he was elected president of the European Parliament for a mandate of two and half years and went on in July 2014 to become the first president in the history of the European Parliament to be re-elected to a second term.
Armed with his European ideals, Schulz will now return to a Germany, which like much of western Europe, is currently experiencing a rise in EU-skepticism and right-wing populism.
At the forefront of the anti-EU sentiment is the leader of the right-wing populist party Alternative for Germany (AfD), Frauke Petry. Following Merkel's confirmed candidacy for the Chancellery on Sunday, Petry quipped that her party would ideally like to see Schulz as the SPD's top candidate - but only, she said, because he was responsible for the failure of the EU "like no other German."
Together, Merkel and Schulz, as the "dream duo of the grand coalition," epitomize the demise of Germany, Petry said.
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