BERLIN, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- German Education Minister Annette Schavan announced her resignation on Saturday after a university stripped her of her doctorate for plagiarism.
Annette Schavan is a close ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The move is said to be a blow to Merkel as she is trying to win a third term in office.
Merkel said she had accepted the resignation "with a heavy heart" after Annette Schavan's former university stripped her of her doctorate over plagiarism when writing her thesis "Person and Conscience" more than 30 years ago, media reports said.