German Chancellor begs President to remain in office

German Chancellor begs President to remain in officeDer Spiegel reported on Tuesday that German Chancellor Angela Merkel begged President Horst Kohler to remain in office instead of submitting his resignation.

Giving Merkel, only 2 hours notice, Kohler stepped down on Monday. It had learned Merkel warned him his decision, even though the presidency has little power, could cause public questioning about German institutions, Der Spiegel has said.

Only 30 percent of the public back the Christian Democrats, a poll released on Tuesday and conducted last week, has reported. Merkel's party has not had such low ratings in four years.

The party was also battered in regional elections in North Rhine-Westphalia on May 9, leaving Merkel without a parliamentary majority while she is negotiating a budget with legislators.

The Times of London further reported that Kohler resigned after a controversial radio interview last week where he linked Germany's economy and its military deployment in Afghanistan. Merkel then canceled a planned visit to Lithuania to remain in Berlin and begin the process of finding a new president. (With Inputs from Agencies)