From the Liveblog of
Thursday, March 8, 2018
German anti-Nazi crusader Heiko Maas to become foreign minister
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleGermany’s designated next foreign minister Heiko Maas is a sharp dresser with a steely edge, who has become the nemesis of far-right and online giants spreading hate speech.
As justice minister for the past four years, the 51-year-old became a passionate crusader against extremists who have railed, in the streets and online, against Germany’s mass influx of refugees and migrants since 2015.
A trained lawyer and passionate triathlete whose partner is a German TV actress, Maas is a relative newcomer to Berlin and has even less experience in international affairs.
He takes over the job of chief diplomat of Europe’s top economy from fellow Social Democrat (SPD) Sigmar Gabriel, who has fallen out of favor with the center-left party’s new leadership.
— AFP
The Times of Israel Community.