Days after leaving his position at the European Parliament, Martin Schulz (right) has been officially appointed by the Social Democratic Party (SPD) as its candidate for Chancellor in September's general elections. He will be challenging Angela Merkel, who is running for a fourth term.

In the next few days Schulz will replace Sigmar Gabriel (left) as the SPD leader, in a game of musical chairs in which Gabriel will replace Frank-Walter Steinmeier as the minister for Foreign Affairs. Steinmeier himself will be elected as Federal president, following a deal between the SPD and Merkel's party.

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