The ruling parties in Chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition government agreed on Monday to put forward Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier to take over as German president next year, a move that would necessitate a cabinet reshuffle. 


Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), had considered pushing for their own candidate but ultimately backed Social Democrat Steinmeier to avoid a prolonged fight with his party, their partner in the ruling 'grand coalition'. 


"We're in agreement, CDU and CSU," said Horst Seehofer, Bavarian state premier and head of the CSU

Source: NNA