GERMANS SWITCH CHOICE FOR FOREIGN POST

April 30, 1992

Germany's Free Democratic Party (FDP) Tuesday reversed its earlier decision and nominated Justice Minister Klaus Kinkel to succeed Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher next month. Chancellor Helmut Kohl had agreed the post should remain in the hands of the FDP, a coalition partner of his Christian Democratic Union.

In a dramatic vote by the FDP's parliamentary members, Irmgard Schwaetzer, the present construction minister, was dropped in favor of Mr. Kinkel.

Legislators were angered by party leader Otto Lambsdorff's apparent bid to choose a candidate without consultation.