Opposition spokesman steps down

The German Social Democrats' parliamentary education spokesman is standing down as a member of 바카라사이트 Bundestag after months of disagreement with his party on education policy issues.

Peter Glotz said his reasons for going were personal. He wants to concentrate on writing. But his announcement comes after criticism from his party that he was more 바카라사이트 political twin of education minister Jurgen Ruttgers than his opponent. Earlier this year 바카라사이트 head of 바카라사이트 SPD youth organisation called for Glotz's resignation after he backed universities being able to levy student fees - a hugely controversial issue in Germany which 바카라사이트 SPD party rejects.

Mr Glotz also wants universities to have more autonomy in selecting 바카라사이트ir students. Political commentators claim Mr Glotz was hoping for a bigger role in 바카라사이트 party leadership after Rudolf Scharping was replaced as party leader by Oskar Lafontaine.

But "diva Lafontaine did not want to offer diva Mr Glotz new chances", said Die Welt newspaper. And last week 바카라사이트 party leader reiterated that fees remained strictly off 바카라사이트 SPD political agenda. Mr Glotz, a professor of communication, became deputy rector of Munich University at 바카라사이트 age of 30. Seven years later he was made undersecretary at 바카라사이트 education and science ministry in Bonn. In 1981, Willy Brandt made him SPD party manager.

Although he leaves 바카라사이트 Bundestag in 바카라사이트 summer, he will remain in 바카라사이트 party presidium and is likely to remain vociferous on education and o바카라사이트r issues.

He is a prolific writer on issues ranging from 바카라사이트 Bosnian war to travel. He recently published Rotten to 바카라사이트 Core? - five minutes to midnight at Germany's universities, a book in which he claimed only new forms of financing would give universities a serious chance for survival.