Minister resigns in Germany
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She was considered one of
chancellor Angela Merkel's closest allies,
Annette Schavan's resignation was
a fresh blow for Merkel's government.
It's with a very heavy heart that I
have accepted this resignation.
In Annette Schavan...
the government is losing one of the most recognized
and distinctive policy makers in the field
of education and research.
In actual fact,
the most recognized and distinctive
policy maker in education and research.
Schavan has been the focus of months of controversy
over allegations
she plagiarized parts of her doctoral thesis.
She says,
she is resigning to protect the integrity of her office.
A law suit between the minister
and the university
would be a taxing issue for both
my office,
the ministry
the government
and the Christian Democrats.
I can't afford to damage
the reputation of these institutions.
Annette Schavan's reputation as a calm, loyal
and influential politician,
propelled her to the top ranks
of the Christian Democratic Party,
the CDU.
Schavan began her political career
in Baden-Wurttemberg,
in the mid 90's
and became education minister there.
She allied herself with Angela Merkel,
then opposition leader in the Bundestag.
Merkel nominated Schavan
as education minister
after she was elected chancellor in 2005.
Schavan gained praise from both Christian Democrats
and oppostion leaders
for expending funding for both education and research.
Now her career has ended with a crash.
Merkel has already selected a successor,
Johanna Wanka is original Science Minister
from Lower Saxony.
Despite their friendship,
Merkel couldn't risk the fall out
from the Schavan affair
with elections scheduled in September.