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German to fight for leader's role German stays on as Lib Dem leader
(about 1 hour later)
The Liberal Democrat leader in the Welsh assembly has announced he is to contest the post again. The Liberal Democrat leader in the Welsh assembly has announced he is to carry on in the post - but only for another year.
But Mike German told the Welsh party's autumn conference in Aberystwyth he would only serve another 12 months if elected and would stand down in 2008. Mike German told the Welsh party's autumn conference in Aberystwyth he would stand down in 2008.
On Saturday MP Lembit Opik told delegates he is to step down from the role of Welsh Liberal Democrat leader. Mr German said he had "unanimous support" from his colleagues in the assembly to continue as their leader.
Mr German said he would now be putting forward his name for that post in addition to his existing leader's role. He is also to stand for the separate role of Welsh Liberal Democrat leader which MP Lembit Opik is to vacate.
"I think it would be wise to do that, to bring the leadership into the National Assembly.," Mr German told BBC Wales' Politics Show. "I think it would be wise to do that, to bring the leadership into the National Assembly," Mr German told BBC Wales' Politics Show.
"I think that was Lembit's view, and I agree with him, and I think the party agree with that, and so what the intention will be will be that we will have an election, or a contest, or simply nominations for both posts and I will put my name forward for both." "I think that was Lembit's view, and I agree with him, and I think the party agree with that, and so what the intention will be, will be that we will have an election, or a contest, or simply nominations for both posts and I will put my name forward for both."
There's a considerable political space for the Welsh Liberal Democrats Mike German AMThere's a considerable political space for the Welsh Liberal Democrats Mike German AM
Mr German has been under pressure since May's election to Cardiff Bay and the failure of assembly government coalition talks involving the Liberal Democrats.Mr German has been under pressure since May's election to Cardiff Bay and the failure of assembly government coalition talks involving the Liberal Democrats.
He has been party leader in the assembly since 1999 where he leads a group of six assembly members in Cardff Bay.He has been party leader in the assembly since 1999 where he leads a group of six assembly members in Cardff Bay.
But he had refused to confirm ahead of this weekend's party conference whether he would stand for leader again. He said he did not want to continue as their leader beyond 2008 because he would be 67, and would have to commit to a further three to four years in the job.
"I think that's time for a move on," said Mr German, although he said he did not want to go immediately.
"I think there's unfinished business, and my colleagues have agreed with this.
'Raft of things'
"We've got a campaign to build, a re-direction of the party, a sense of purpose and change internally in our party management methodologies.
"There's a whole raft of things which I'm engaged in now."
He said that his colleagues had supported him unanimously and there would not be a challenge for the leadership job.
Lib Dem party rules state that a leadership election must be held within a year of an assembly election.Lib Dem party rules state that a leadership election must be held within a year of an assembly election.
Mr Opik, who has decided to step down as Welsh party leader after six years, said: "This will also give me more time to continue working to my very best ability for my Montgomeryshire constituency - my most important role of all." Mr Opik announced his intention to step down as Welsh party leader after six years at the conference on Saturday, saying it would give him more time to continue working to his best ability for his constituency.
He also attacked backbiting. Before he announced his decision to stay as leader , Mr German told BBC Radio Wales: "The most important task that we have facing us is occupying the political vacuum which has been left by the movement to the left of both Plaid and the Labour Party and there's a considerable political space for the Welsh Liberal Democrats.
"A little more openness will go a long way to making us a more cohesive force in Welsh politics," he said.
"I ask you to extend that respect to my successor."
Before he announced his decision, Mr German told BBC Radio Wales that he hoped members would be happy with what they heard from him.
'Confident liberalism'
But he added: "The most important task that we have facing us is occupying the political vacuum which has been left by the movement to the left of both Plaid and the Labour Party and there's a considerable political space for the Welsh Liberal Democrats.
"There is a great opportunity for us because there are a great number of Plaid supporters who are unhappy with the direction their party has taken."There is a great opportunity for us because there are a great number of Plaid supporters who are unhappy with the direction their party has taken.
"They've ditched a huge number of their key programme policies.""They've ditched a huge number of their key programme policies."
"So now we are the only party which wants to replace council tax with a fair tax based on your ability to pay, which says there will be no nuclear power in Wales."So now we are the only party which wants to replace council tax with a fair tax based on your ability to pay, which says there will be no nuclear power in Wales.
"And if you really want to pursue the green agenda and make a difference to climate change then a vote for us is the only one which will work.""And if you really want to pursue the green agenda and make a difference to climate change then a vote for us is the only one which will work."
Mr German said by the end of the weekend not only his personal direction would be clear, but so would the "political space this party is going to occupy".