In addition to politicians, celebrities also cast their votes in the election.
(Photo: dpa)
Berlin The election of the new Federal President began in the Federal Assembly in Berlin on Sunday. The re-election of incumbent Frank-Walter Steinmeier is considered certain. He was nominated by the traffic light parties SPD, Greens and FDP as well as by the CDU/CSU opposition.
Together they have a large majority in the Federal Assembly. The 66-year-old is only the fifth Federal President to stand for a second term.
The left is the doctor Gerhard Trabert (65) and the AfD the economist Max Otte (57), who is a member of the CDU. In addition, the Free Voters sent the physicist Stefanie Gebauer (41) into the race. However, all three have no chance given the majority situation.
Bundestag President Bärbel Bas (SPD) opened the session on Sunday afternoon in the Paul-Löbe-Haus. She called on citizens and politicians to be courageous and not to lose their nerve, even under the difficult conditions of the corona pandemic and other smoldering crises. “Every era presents new challenges. There are risks associated with every step forward,” she said, and demanded: “Nevertheless, let us dare change and progress!”
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Bas described the polarized mood in the country: “People who have different attitudes seem to be irreconcilable. The mood in the country, in families and circles of friends suffers as a result. There is no vaccine against that,” she said.
That is why courage, confidence and a respectful tone when dealing with those who think differently are now so important. “The majority is not automatically right – but neither is the minority,” she said. Everyone had to move and approach each other.
The electors are diverse
Bas called on the MPs among those present to listen to the citizens even more. Because that could only enrich the debate in parliamentary democracy.
Fifth Federal President with a second term.
(Photo: imago images/Chris Emil Janssen)
Because of the corona pandemic, the delegates did not gather in the plenary hall of the Reichstag building this time for the election of the Federal President, but in the neighboring Paul-Löbe-Haus, where there is more space on five floors with numerous meeting rooms.
The Federal Assembly is the largest parliamentary body in Germany. Its only task is to elect the head of state every five years. It is made up of the members of the German Bundestag and an equal number of members who are delegated by the 16 state parliaments. Since the Bundestag currently has 736 members, the Federal Assembly consists of 1472 electors – more than ever before.
Former Chancellor Angela Merkel (l, CDU) also came to the Paul-Löbe-Haus for the election of the Federal President by the Federal Assembly.
(Photo: dpa)
Ex-Chancellor Angela Merkel was also among the delegates who received great applause before the start of the election. The list also included celebrities such as national coach Hansi Flick, footballer Leon Goretzka or musician Roland Kaiser, but this year also scientists such as astronaut Alexander Gerst, virologist Christian Drosten and Biontech co-founder and vaccine developer Özlem Türeci.
From Chancellor’s Office to Head of State
Steinmeier headed the chancellery under Chancellor Gerhard Schröder (SPD) from 1999, before that he had been head of the state chancellery as prime minister in Hanover. He was foreign minister from 2005 to 2009 and again from 2013 to 2017. In the federal elections of 2009, he failed as SPD candidate for chancellor.
The feminist rapper came with an unusual outfit and a bag with a political message: The artist and scientist, whose real name is Reyhan Sahin, wore a white veil, dress and overknee boots as well as a blue bag on the “Nazis Raus” and ” no AfD” stood.
(Photo: dpa)
The Federal Assembly is the largest parliamentary body in Germany. Its only task is to elect the head of state every five years. It is made up of the members of the German Bundestag and an equal number of members who are delegated by the 16 state parliaments. Since the Bundestag currently has 736 members, the Federal Assembly consists of 1,472 electors – more than ever before.
SPD, Greens, FDP and CDU/CSU together make up 1223 of the 1472 members. The AfD has 151 and the left has 71 delegates. The Free Voters are represented by 18 electors, the South Schleswig Voters’ Association (SSW) by 2. There are also a few non-attached voters.
The MPs no longer all fit into the plenary hall of the Bundestag.
(Photo: imago images/Chris Emil Janssen)
Because of the corona pandemic, this time the Federal Assembly will not meet in the plenary hall of the Reichstag building, but in the neighboring Paul-Löbe-Haus, where there is more space. There are numerous offices of MPs. There are also many meeting rooms that are now also used for the Federal Assembly in order to be able to keep distances.
All delegates must provide proof of a negative corona test in order to be able to take part in the Federal Assembly. For this purpose, a test center was set up in front of the Reichstag building, in front of which a long queue formed at times on Saturday.