A young upstart, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, replaces Michael Glos

MICHAEL GLOS never wanted to be Germany’s economy minister. “I never said, ‘What a great job’,” he said in an interview last year. On February 7th he chose to leave it in the most awkward manner possible. Seven months before a federal election, in the midst of an economic conflagration, he faxed a resignation letter to Horst Seehofer, premier of Bavaria and head of the Christian Social Union (CSU), which, as a partner in Germany’s grand coalition, appoints the economy minister. That stunned Mr Seehofer, embarrassed Angela Merkel, who as chancellor is Mr Glos’s nominal boss, and drew attention to the tension between them. Mr Seehofer at first rejected Mr Glos’s resignation, then reversed himself when he realised the economy ministry needs a credible boss.

He chose boldly. Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, who is 37, is the youngest economy minister since the war. He has blue blood (and ten given names), a way with words and some expertise in foreign affairs. Less apparent are any qualifications for the job. Mr zu Guttenberg ran his family’s investment firm, but Mr Seehofer was probably more impressed by his cleverness and glamour. The CSU, which lost its absolute majority in Bavaria last September, needs rejuvenation. Mr zu Guttenberg has just spent three months as the party’s general secretary, in charge of preparations for the European and federal elections. ...