Monday, German President Horst Köhler resigned from his position. With his wife at his side, an emotional Köhler announced, “”I declare my resignation from the office of president — with immediate effect.”

Köhler’s quit leaves a vacuum that will add even more to Angela Merkel’s growing political worries, in between of criticism over a lack of decisive leadership, and a four-year low rating for her government in opinion polls. (more…)