By Erik Kirschbaum
BERLIN, May 11 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition partners will hold a party conference this week seeking a way out of a steep slide in popularity linked to a minister they have so far refused to dump.
Guido Westerwelle, the most unpopular foreign minister in recent German history, reluctantly gave up the leadership of the Free Democrats (FDP) and the office of vice chancellor to Philipp Roesler, his erstwhile protege who will be running unopposed on Friday.
The turmoil in the FDP -- which has plunged to around four percent in polls from the 14.6 percent the party won in the 2009 election -- has shaken Merkel's coalition. The FDP's weakness also has contributed to its tough stance on euro zone bailouts.
Roesler, 38, has tried to find answers for the frustration in the party over their stunning fall in polls to below the five percent threshold needed to obtain seats in parliament.
Westerwelle, 49, has remained foreign minister, even though opinion polls show he is the reason voters are deserting. Some senior party members, fearing a further erosion, want Westerwelle removed.
'The simple reason for the FDP's weakness is Westerwelle and as long as he remains foreign minister the FDP's got a problem,' said Manfred Guellner, managing director of the Forsa polling institute. 'Voters feel he's not up to the job.'
On Tuesday Roesler forced out another unpopular figure, parliamentary floor leader Birgit Homburger. He also sidelined economy minister Rainer Bruederle after a drawn-out battle, giving him Homburger's job as a consolation prize.
Roesler will take over from Bruederle as economy minister, a higher profile post than his current job as health minister.
WESTERWELLE BLAMED FOR SLIDE
But Westerwelle -- who nurtured the careers of Roesler and deputy party leader Christian Lindner -- has remained immune to the shake up even though storm clouds are brewing ahead of the party congress in the northern port city of Rostock.
'It's difficult to understand the logic,' Sueddeutsche Zeitung columnist Nico Fried write. 'Westerwelle isn't allowed to lead the FDP anymore but will represent Germany around the world.'
Gerhart Rudolf Baum, a former FDP minister and respected party elder statesman, said Westerwelle's clinging to power was damaging Roesler and the party's hopes for a new start.
'I still can't fathom that Westerwelle is staying on as foreign minister in light of the fact that the massive loss of confidence in the party is due to his performance as foreign minister,' Baum told German radio in Wednesday.
Michael Stuermer, a columnist at B.Z. daily, wrote: 'Westerwelle is the FDP's most visible and disappointing figure. He appeared uninformed and uninterested. The FDP crisis is above all a Westerwelle crisis.'
Pollsters say voters dislike Westerwelle's ineffective leadership, his abrasive style and the view that he has catered to special interests. Many blame him for isolating Germany in the international community with its abstention in the U.N. Security Council vote authorising military action on Libya.
Westerwelle's name is not on any ballot in Rostock. But on Wednesday newly elected FDP deputy parliamentary leader, Martin Lindner, called for a formal vote on whether Westerwelle should remain foreign minister.
'Disenchantment over Westerwelle won't go away,' he said.
(Editing by Michael Roddy) Keywords: GERMANY FDP/ (Reuters messaging: erik.kirschbaum.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
BERLIN, May 11 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition partners will hold a party conference this week seeking a way out of a steep slide in popularity linked to a minister they have so far refused to dump.
Guido Westerwelle, the most unpopular foreign minister in recent German history, reluctantly gave up the leadership of the Free Democrats (FDP) and the office of vice chancellor to Philipp Roesler, his erstwhile protege who will be running unopposed on Friday.
The turmoil in the FDP -- which has plunged to around four percent in polls from the 14.6 percent the party won in the 2009 election -- has shaken Merkel's coalition. The FDP's weakness also has contributed to its tough stance on euro zone bailouts.
Roesler, 38, has tried to find answers for the frustration in the party over their stunning fall in polls to below the five percent threshold needed to obtain seats in parliament.
Westerwelle, 49, has remained foreign minister, even though opinion polls show he is the reason voters are deserting. Some senior party members, fearing a further erosion, want Westerwelle removed.
'The simple reason for the FDP's weakness is Westerwelle and as long as he remains foreign minister the FDP's got a problem,' said Manfred Guellner, managing director of the Forsa polling institute. 'Voters feel he's not up to the job.'
On Tuesday Roesler forced out another unpopular figure, parliamentary floor leader Birgit Homburger. He also sidelined economy minister Rainer Bruederle after a drawn-out battle, giving him Homburger's job as a consolation prize.
Roesler will take over from Bruederle as economy minister, a higher profile post than his current job as health minister.
WESTERWELLE BLAMED FOR SLIDE
But Westerwelle -- who nurtured the careers of Roesler and deputy party leader Christian Lindner -- has remained immune to the shake up even though storm clouds are brewing ahead of the party congress in the northern port city of Rostock.
'It's difficult to understand the logic,' Sueddeutsche Zeitung columnist Nico Fried write. 'Westerwelle isn't allowed to lead the FDP anymore but will represent Germany around the world.'
Gerhart Rudolf Baum, a former FDP minister and respected party elder statesman, said Westerwelle's clinging to power was damaging Roesler and the party's hopes for a new start.
'I still can't fathom that Westerwelle is staying on as foreign minister in light of the fact that the massive loss of confidence in the party is due to his performance as foreign minister,' Baum told German radio in Wednesday.
Michael Stuermer, a columnist at B.Z. daily, wrote: 'Westerwelle is the FDP's most visible and disappointing figure. He appeared uninformed and uninterested. The FDP crisis is above all a Westerwelle crisis.'
Pollsters say voters dislike Westerwelle's ineffective leadership, his abrasive style and the view that he has catered to special interests. Many blame him for isolating Germany in the international community with its abstention in the U.N. Security Council vote authorising military action on Libya.
Westerwelle's name is not on any ballot in Rostock. But on Wednesday newly elected FDP deputy parliamentary leader, Martin Lindner, called for a formal vote on whether Westerwelle should remain foreign minister.
'Disenchantment over Westerwelle won't go away,' he said.
(Editing by Michael Roddy) Keywords: GERMANY FDP/ (Reuters messaging: erik.kirschbaum.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
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