The German president, Christian Wulff, has resigned after having seemingly weathered a scandal since late 2011 that had brought a series of unflattering revelations. The involvement of state public prosecutors in the affair proved to be a step too far Mr Wulff had already lost the trust of many Germans following the disclosure that he had leant on a popular tabloid, Bild, in a heavy-handed attempt to prevent it publishing details about a controversial mortgage that the president had taken out. The presidency is a largely ceremonial role, so the effect on policymaking is negligible. However, the position of federal president is considered to have a moral component as well, so the missteps with the press and other improprieties became a heavy burden that Mr Wulff could not ultimately relinquish.
Friday, 17 February 2012
