Stubborn, powerful and determined, Sigmar Gabriel has been the strongman of German energy policy since 2013.
His unexpected departure from Germany’s economics and energy ministry to likely be succeeded by current state secretary Brigitte Zypries could mean a stagnation in renewables policy until general elections in September.
Zypries has been a respected justice minister under former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and Angela Merkel’s first cabinet.
