KARL-THEODOR zu GUTTENBERG (2)

I predicted last week that Germany's Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg would eventually bow to pressure and resign before the summer holidays, after he had been stripped of his law doctorate for plagiarism.

I was wrong in the timing, since he has just resigned. The tipping point appears to have been the fact that yesterday, more than 20,000 academics wrote to Chancellor Angela Merkel, complaining that he was still in his job.

It is possible that Herr zu Guttenberg could return to politics. However, he may - understandably - not want to. And even if he does, it won't be for some time.

Walter Blotscher