In November 2016, he announced that he would not seek a third term, and instead run as the SPD's candidate for the German Chancellorship in 2017; he was succeeded as President of the European Parliament by EPP MEP Antonio Tajani on 17 January 2017.
He would not seek a third term. This was what he announced in November 2016. He would not run as the SPD's candidate for the German Chancellorship in 2017. This was what he announced in November 2016. He was succeeded as President of the European Parliament by EPP MEP Antonio Tajani on 17 January 2017.