Schroeder to give up parliamentary seat

Outgoing Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder told MPs today he will give up his parliamentary seat, members of his party said, completing his withdrawal from day-to-day politics after seven years as German leader.

Schroeder told MPs from his Social Democratic Party that he will give up his seat on Wednesday, a day after the new parliament elects conservative Angela Merkel as his successor, two party officials who were present at the meeting told The Associated Press.