The new President of Germany, elected the former head of the Ministry of foreign Affairs 61-year-old Frank-Walter Steinmeier. He was the sole candidate of the CDU/CSU and SPD gained an absolute majority in the first round.
New, 12-m account, President of Germany Sunday, February 12, elected 61-year-old former Minister of foreign Affairs Frank-Walter Steinmeier (Frank-Walter Steinmeier).
In support of the social Democrats in the Federal Assembly voted 931 of the deputies of the Bundestag and delegates of the parliaments of the land, 103 abstained. The vote was attended by 1239 people.
Victory in the first round
As expected, Steinmeier single candidate from the “Grand coalition” consisting of the conservative CDU/CSU and the Social democratic party of Germany (SPD) has won in the first round. On 19 March, is scheduled the inauguration ceremony. Steinmeier changes in the post 77-year-old Joachim gauck (Joachim Gauck).
Competitors without a chance
The other candidates for the post of President of Germany simply had no chance. In the end, a researcher from the Cologne Butterwegge Christoph (Christoph Butterwege) nominated by the Left party, gained 128 votes, the popular lawyer, actor and TV presenter Alexander Khol (Alexander Hold), put forward by party “Free voters” — 25 votes, Deputy Chairman of the “Alternative for Germany” Albrecht Glaser (Glaser Albrecht) — 42 votes, the candidate of the “pirates”, Sonneborn Engelbert (Engelbert Sonneborn) — 10.
You need to understand the differences between facts and myths
Speaking to the delegates of the Federal Assembly, Steinmeier noted that “we live in turbulent times,” when there is a particularly urgent need to recognize the distinction between “facts” and “myths”. Speaking about the current situation in the world, the politician even went to the classics. “The time is” — he quoted a fragment from Shakespeare’s “hamlet”. “We need the courage to say that (actually. — Ed.) is the place to be, and what — not,” — said Steinmeier.
“Democracy should not be taken as a weakness”
According to the elected President, “democracy should not be taken” as a weakness. “Freedom and democracy are the Foundation of a United Europe,” summed up Frank-Walter Steinmeier. He thanked those who voted for him for their support and promised to work, while respecting the interests of both the ruling coalition and opposition forces.
Nearly 20 years in politics
Frank-Walter Steinmeier was born on 5 January 1956 in Detmold in the Federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia. He comes from a working class family. Policy career began in the team of Gerhard Schroeder (Gerhard Schröder).
Steinmeier was headed by the office of Schroeder, when he was appointed Prime Minister of Lower Saxony. After Schroeder became Chancellor, Steinmeier moved with him to Berlin, where he first worked as state Secretary of the Federal government, and later managed the office of the Federal Chancellor.
Since 2005 he held the post of Minister of foreign Affairs in the coalition government of the CDU/CSU-SPD. In 2007 assumed the position of Vice-Chancellor, was also a leader of the SPD faction in the Bundestag. After the parliamentary elections in 2013 once again headed the Ministry of foreign Affairs of Germany.
