Schroeder, Fischer to stand again in 2006-source

[Kellanved]

BERLIN, Aug. 28 — Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer plan to stand again in 2006, effectively ruling out Fischer for the likely future post of EU foreign minister, a German government source said on Thursday.

''Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and Deputy Chancellor Joschka Fischer agree that they will both stand for re-election in 2006,'' the source told Reuters.
Fischer, who heads the Greens, junior coalition partner to Schroeder's Social Democrats, could then not be a candidate for foreign minister of the European Union, a post likely to begin by 2006 if a proposed EU constitution is ratified.
His spokesman declined to deny Fischer would stand again in 2006 and said Fischer had always said he liked being German foreign minister. Schroeder's spokesman declined to comment.
The 55-year-old Fischer has been foreign minister and vice chancellor under Schroeder since 1998 and has won international recognition for his role in furthering European integration.
Many observers have thought a shift to Brussels would be a logical career move for the street fighter turned statesman, who has no chance of advancing at home beyond his current rank as vice chancellor despite his popularity.
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