Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
BERLIN (AP) — Berlin's new mayor has taken office, inheriting the problem of trying to open the German capital's much-delayed new airport.
Berlin's state legislature on Thursday elected Michael Mueller, a center-left Social Democrat, as mayor.
He took over in midterm from Klaus Wowereit, the mayor since 2001, who presided over the city's emergence as a popular tourist destination and center for high-tech startups but stepped down after his popularity suffered from the airport debacle.
The airport's opening was called off in mid-2012 because of fire safety problems officials have yet to resolve. There's currently no date set for it to open.
The 50-year-old Mueller was previously Berlin's development and environment minister. He has a down-to-earth image, pledging "solid government" and an emphasis on affordable housing.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
