Leo von Caprivi known as Skórzyn, Poland). Leo von Caprivi Georg Leo Graf von Caprivi de Caprera de Montecuccoli (, born Georg Leo von Caprivi; 24 February 1831 – 6 February 1899) was a German general and statesman who succeeded Otto von Bismarck as Chancellor of Germany. Caprivi served as German Chancellor from March 1890 to October 1894. Caprivi promoted industrial and commercial development, and concluded numerous bilateral treaties for reduction of tariff barriers. However, this movement toward free trade angered the conservative agrarian interests, especially the Junkers. He promised the Catholic Center party educational reforms that would increase their influence, but failed
Chancellor the directly elected federal parliament), every four years on the beginning of the electoral period after general elections. Between general elections, the Federal Chancellor (together with the whole cabinet) can only be removed from office by a ' ("constructive motion of no confidence") which consists in the candidacy of an opposition candidate for the office of Chancellor in the '. If this candidate gets a majority of the entire membership of the ", he or she will be sworn in immediately as new Federal Chancellor. The current German " is Angela Merkel of the CDU (Christian Democratic Union). The former