Germany to vote on new president March 18

BERLIN (AP) — Germany's speaker of parliament says a special assembly will vote March 18 on a successor to ex-President Christian Wulff, who resigned abruptly on Friday over growing allegations that he had received favors from friends.

Speaker Norbert Lammert announced the vote Monday. It's widely seen a formality because Germany's governing parties and major opposition have agreed to jointly nominate former East German human rights activist Joachim Gauck.

The 72-year-old Gauck is a former Lutheran priest who opposed the former East Germany's communist regime.

Wulff, 52, stepped down from the largely ceremonial post after two months of allegations that he received favors such as a favorable loan and hotel stays from friends when he was state governor of Lower Saxony.