Date set for German presidential vote

A special assembly of the German parliament will vote on March 18 for a successor to former president Christian Wulff, who resigned abruptly on Friday over growing allegations that he had received favours from friends.

Speaker Norbert Lammert announced the vote, which is widely seen as a formality because Germany’s governing parties and major opposition have agreed to jointly nominate former East German human rights activist Joachim Gauck, 72.