Martin Schulz will not seek third term at European Parliament

European Parliament President Martin Schulz has said he will not seek a third term and is returning to German national politics.

"I will not run as president of the European parliament for a third term next year, I will run for the German Bundestag as the head of the list of my party, the SPD, in North Rhine-Westphalia," Mr Schulz told reporters in Brussels, referring to the Social Democrats.

Some in Brussels have questioned whether Mr Schulz should go at a time of turbulence for the Union since Britain's vote to leave in June.

It could leave all three main EU institutions led by the centre-right and see pressure on the position of European Council President Donald Tusk, who will chair negotiations on Brexit.

The former Polish prime minister's first 30-month term expires at the end of May.

Jean-Claude Juncker has a five-year term at the head of the executive European Commission, which runs until October 2019.
 [rte.ie]
24/11/16

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