Word: chancellor
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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...effective strategy for punishing Tehran over its suspected nuclear-weapons program, U.S. President George W. Bush huddled with two of his closest allies earlier this month. First, Nicolas Sarkozy, the new President of France - someone who, at times, has sounded more hawkish on Iran than Bush - and then German Chancellor Angela Merkel repeated that economic sanctions were a crucial part of diplomatic efforts to get Tehran to halt its development of facilities capable of producing weapons-grade uranium. But if ever there was a case where the devil is in the details, it's in the practical application of sanctions...
...wife is pleased with it. The Chancellor is not.' FRANZ MÜENTEFERING, top Social Democrat in Germany's coalition government headed by Christian Democrat Chancellor Angela Merkel, on his decision to step down as Vice Chancellor in order to take care of his wife, who is suffering from cancer...
...resignation of Franz Müntefering, Germany's cigarillo-smoking Vice Chancellor, came with characteristic abruptness. Even his colleagues in the Social Democratic Party, or SPD, were surprised by the single line announcement released by the former union leader's office. Müntefering, 67, stressed that he was stepping down from Germany's second most powerful position for personal reasons, notably a "new, dramatic situation" regarding the health of his wife, who has cancer. His departure engendered great sympathy, of course - but also plenty of questions, for it comes after months of speculation about whether he would stay...
...ntefering had recently quarreled with Chancellor Angela Merkel over her refusal to introduce a minimum wage; he had also tussled with his own party's left wing over government plans to roll back welfare reforms introduced under the previous SPD-led government. But already questions have shifted from what engendered Müntefering's departure to what it could mean for the future: a leftward shift in the SPD, the end of any meaningful economic reforms for the current German government, and possibly the opening salvo in elections expected...
...shortly after he failed in coalition talks to prevent the government from rolling back a reform that had been credited with reducing unemployment. Despite occasional disagreements and opposing party affiliations, Müntefering generally got along well with Angela Merkel, despite their opposing party affiliations. His replacement as Vice Chancellor, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who will retain his current post as foreign minister, has a more arm's-length relationship with the CDU Chancellor. The two recently disagreed openly on policy towards China and Russia...