New leader for IG Metall

The next president of the 2.7 million-strong IG Metall is almost certain to be Jürgen Peters, at present the deputy president. He has been nominated by the union's executive by 37 votes to one and so is virtually guaranteed to be elected at the union's congress in October.

IG Metall is at present moving into opposition to the government's polices on cutting unemployment benefit (see Labour Research April 2003 page 8). Peters is seen by some commentators as likely to take a more militant position than the other main candidate for the job, Berthold Huber.