President Christian Wulff of Germany announced his resignation on Friday after scandals provoked calls for him to step down. Chancellor Angela Merkel, who supported Wulff in his presidency, reported she accepted Wulff’s resignation with the “utmost respect and deepest personal regret.” The scandal engrosses suspected political favors and financial impropriety while he was state premier of the Lower Saxony Parliament.
In statement Wulff said, “The developments of the past days and weeks have shown that this trust and therefore confidence in my ability to serve have been adversely affected. For this reason, it is no longer possible for me to continue in my role as president.” Merkel reported that Wulff’s presidency would be remembered by his hard work to advocate a modern and tolerant Germany. “He gave us important impetus and made it clear that the strength of this country lies in its diversity,” Merkel said. Wulff was the 10th president to serve the Federal Republic of Germany.
