President Horst Koehler stunned Germans by resigning Monday after being criticized for appearing to link military deployments abroad with the country’s economic interests — creating a new headache for Chancellor Angela Merkel.
The resignation, effective immediately, came a year into Koehler's second term as the largely ceremonial head of state. Merkel’s center-right alliance installed the former International Monetary Fund boss as president in 2004, and his departure is a symbolic blow.
Full story: German President Quits Over Military Remarks : NPR