German president quits over scandals

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BERLIN: Germany’s president resigned yesterday after a string of scandals, handing Chancellor Angela Merkel a political headache at home as she battles to lead Europe from its debt crisis.

“I am … today (yesterday) stepping down from the office of federal president to free up the
way quickly for a successor,” Christian Wulff said in a dramatic three-and-a-half-minute televised statement from his Bellevue palace.

Germany needs “a president that enjoys the trust of not only a majority, but a broad majority of citizens,” said a sombre Wulff, with his wife Bettina at his side.

“The developments of the last days and weeks have shown that this trust and therefore my effectiveness have been damaged.” — AFP