Germany Social Democrat Steinbrueck Pledges to Unseat Mer
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German Social Democrat Peer Steinbrueck accused Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government of isolating the country in the European debt crisis as his party approved his candidacy to challenge her in next year’s election.
The SPD candidate, who was finance minister under Merkel from 2005 to 2009, described Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union as “listless” and shirking Germany’s responsibilities by working in its own interest during Europe’s turmoil at the expense of euro members burdened by debt and austerity. SPD delegates voted for his candidacy by a margin of 93 percent.