European Parliament President Schulz to enter German politics

Germany’s Martin Schulz said on Thursday he would step down as head of the European Parliament and return to national politics, where analysts say he could emerge as a rival to Angela Merkel.

The outspoken former bookseller from Aachen will quit after four years in office, during which he became one of the EU’s most high- profile politicians and gave its assembly sorely needed visibility.

The bearded 60- year- old did not say if he would run for chancellor against Merkel, although he is widely expected to slot into a prime position for the Social Democratic Party ( SPD), which is currently in coalition with her.

“I will not run as president of the European parliament for a third term next year, I will run for the German Bundestag as the head of the list of my party,” an emotional Schulz told reporters in Brussels.

“It was not an easy decision, as it is an honor to be the president of the European parliament.”

Schulz is tipped in Berlin as a possible replacement to Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, who now leads the party but is behind Schulz in the latest polling.

He is also floated as a possible replacement for Foreign Minister Frank- Walter Steinmeier, another top socialist who is to become Germany’s next president.

Until his announcement, Schulz had been working behind the scenes to stay as the president of the EU parliament, angering the center- right European People’s Party which said it was promised the role as it is the largest group in the assembly.

Last week Schulz even won the support of his friend JeanClaude Juncker, the head of European Commission, who went against his own EPP party to back Schulz.

Juncker – who reportedly said he could resign if the German stepped down – told reporters on Thursday “I regret it” when asked about Schulz’s departure.