Germany's von der Leyen to resign as defence minister regardless of European Parliament vote

BERLIN: The European Union's conservative nominee to head the executive Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said on Monday she would step down as German defence minister regardless of the outcome of the European Parliament's Tuesday vote.

"Tomorrow I will ask for the confidence of the European Parliament. Regardless of the outcome, I will step down as Minister of Defence on Wednesday in order to serve Europe with all my strength," von der Leyen said on Twitter.