Germany's center-left to confirm Schulz as Merkel challenger
Posted March 19, 2017 7:00 am
BERLIN (AP) - Germany's center-left Social Democratic Party is holding a special convention to confirm Martin Schulz as the party's top candidate to challenge Chancellor Angela Merkel in the country's upcoming general election.
Party leaders unexpectedly nominated Schulz after long-time chairman Sigmar Gabriel stepped aside in January. The party has since experienced a surge in the polls not seen in a decade.
Analysts say Schulz benefits from being a relative newcomer to domestic politics. Until his nomination, the 61-year-old was president of the European Parliament.
The Social Democrats' general secretary, Katarina Barley, told reporters ahead of the convention Sunday that the party has seen 13,000 new members join this year.
Merkel, whose center-right Christian union bloc is in a coalition with the Social Democrats, is running for a fourth term on Sept. 24.
Designated Social Democratic Party, SPD, chairman and top candidate for the upcoming general elections Martin Schulz waves after his speech during an extraordinary party convention in Berlin, Sunday, March 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
The Associated Press
Designated Social Democratic Party, SPD, chairman and top candidate for the upcoming general elections Martin Schulz smiles after his speech during an extraordinary party convention in Berlin, Sunday, March 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
The Associated Press
Outgoing Social Democratic Party, SPD, chairman Sigmar Gabriel, right, and designated chairman and top candidate for the upcoming general election Martin Schulz wave during an extraordinary party convention in Berlin, Sunday, March 19, 2017.(AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
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Designated chairman and top candidate for the upcoming general election Martin Schulz, speaks during an extraordinary convention of the German Social Democratic party, SPD, in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, March 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
The Associated Press
Designated chairman and top candidate for the upcoming general election Martin Schulz, right, applauds as long term chairman Sigmar Gabriel, front, reacts after his fare well speech as part of an extraordinary convention of the German Social Democratic party (SPD) in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, March 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
The Associated Press
Outgoing Social Democratic Party, SPD, chairman Sigmar Gabriel waves after his speech during an extraordinary party convention in Berlin, Sunday, March 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
The Associated Press
Designated Social Democratic Party, SPD, chairman and top candidate for the upcoming general elections Martin Schulz delivers his speech during an extraordinary party convention in Berlin, Sunday, March 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
The Associated Press
Designated Social Democratic Party, SPD, chairman and top candidate for the upcoming general elections Martin Schulz delivers his speech during a special party convention in Berlin, Sunday, March 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
The Associated Press
Designated Social Democratic Party, SPD, chairman and top candidate in the upcoming general elections Martin Schulz delivers his speech during an extraordinary party convention in Berlin, Sunday, March 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
The Associated Press
Designated chairman and top candidate for the upcoming general election Martin Schulz speaks during an extraordinary convention of the German Social Democratic party, SPD, in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, March 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
The Associated Press
Chairman Sigmar Gabriel waves good bye after his speech as part of an extraordinary convention of the German Social Democratic party, SPD, in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, March 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
The Associated Press
The designated chairman and top candidate for the upcoming general election Martin Schulz, left, and chairman Sigmar Gabriel, right, stay arm in arm after Gabriel's speech as part of an extraordinary convention of the German Social Democratic party, SPD, in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, March 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
The Associated Press
Long term chairman Sigmar Gabriel speaks during an extraordinary convention of the German Social Democratic party, SPD, in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, March 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
The Associated Press
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