Continuity in turbulent times: Frank-Walter Steinmeier remains Federal President. He was overwhelmingly re-elected for a second term. In his speech he warns of the danger of war in Europe.
Frank Walter-Steinmeier can continue to live in Bellevue Palace. At the Federal Assembly, the previous incumbent was re-elected for a second term. Steinmeier received an overwhelming majority in the first ballot: 1045 of the 1437 votes cast went to him. Twelve votes were invalid. The 66-year-old accepted the election immediately afterwards. The result comes as no surprise. He enjoys the support of the SPD, the Union parties, the Greens and the FDP. His three opponents were considered to have no chance. They were set up by the Left Party, AfD and Free Voters.
Frank-Walter Steinmeier warns of the danger of war in Europe
Left candidate Gerhard Trabert received 96 votes. Max Otte, CDU politician and AfD candidate, was able to collect 140 votes. The Free Voters candidate, Stefanie Gebauer, received 58 votes. The SPD, Greens, FDP and CDU/CSU together made up 1223 of the 1472 members of the Federal Assembly – far more than the absolute majority required in the first ballot. In the run-up, it was eagerly awaited how many delegates would vote for Otte. The AfD alone provided 151 voters. The candidacy of the CDU politician on the AfD ticket was extremely controversial in advance. The CDU therefore withdrew his membership rights and initiated a party exclusion procedure.
In his speech after his re-election, Steinmeier warned of the acute danger of war in Europe. “We are in the midst of a military conflict, a war in Eastern Europe,” Steinmeier told the Federal Assembly. In clear words, he assigned responsibility for the escalation in the Ukraine conflict to Russian President Vladimir Putin. At the same time, the head of state invited the head of the Kremlin to be part of a European peace community. “I appeal to President Putin: Untie the noose around Ukraine’s neck and join us in finding a way that preserves peace in Europe,” said Steinmeier. The Russian president should not make the mistake of underestimating the power of democracy, he added. The same message has come from Washington, Paris and Berlin these days: “We want peaceful neighborhoods with mutual respect.”
Inviting words to opposing candidates
The newly elected Federal President has offered one of his defeated competitors a cooperation in the fight against homelessness. “With your candidacy, you drew attention to an issue that deserves more attention: the situation of the poorest and most vulnerable in our country,” said Steinmeier, addressing the left candidate, the doctor Gerhard Trabert. “For that, Mr. Trabert, you not only deserve respect, but I hope that your impulse will be maintained.” Trabert has been committed to medical care for the homeless and refugee aid for decades.
Both Trabert and himself have been dealing with the issue of homelessness for a long time, said Steinmeier. “Why don’t we see if we can draw more attention to this urgent topic together, Mr. Trabert? I would be happy if we could talk about it.”
“As Federal President, I will not shy away from controversy”
Steinmeier also does not want to avoid dealing with radical and violent opponents of the Corona policy. “Those who tear open wounds, who spread hatred and lies in the distress of the pandemic, who fabricate stories about ‘corona dictatorship’ and who do not even shy away from threats and violence, against police officers, nurses and mayors, to whom I say: I am here, I’m staying,” Steinmeier announced in the speech after his re-election on Sunday in Berlin.
“As Federal President, I will not shy away from controversy, democracy needs controversy. But there is a red line, and it runs through hatred and violence. And we have to stick to this red line in this country,” said Steinmeier. He warned against supporting the challenges to democracy. “Opponents of democracy, from outside and inside, sow doubts about our ability to act and our institutions, about free science, the free media during the pandemic.”
Steinmeier also emphasized: “The pandemic has left deep wounds in our society. And I want to help heal these wounds.” After two years of the pandemic, there is frustration and irritation. There were mistakes and misjudgments. “But, ladies and gentlemen, show me an authoritarian system that would have come through this crisis better.” The decisive breakthrough in the fight against the pandemic, the rapid development of a vaccine, happened in free science in Germany, with partners in Europe and the USA. “We shouldn’t hide our light under a bushel, despite all the self-criticism that is necessary.”
Steinmeier’s second term begins on March 18. He is only the fifth Federal President with a second term. The 66-year-old, who is leaving his SPD party affiliation as head of state, has been President of the Federal Republic of Germany since 2017. He was previously Foreign Minister from 2005 to 2009 and then again from 2013 to 2017. In the federal elections of 2009, he failed as SPD candidate for chancellor.
Celebrities also elected the Federal President
The 17th Federal Assembly has 1472 members. It is the largest parliamentary assembly in Germany. Their sole task is to elect the head of state. The assembly includes the 736 members of the Bundestag and the same number of representatives from the state parliaments. For reasons of pandemic protection, the Federal Assembly does not meet in the plenary hall of the Bundestag, but spread over five floors in the Paul-Löbe-Haus.
Ex-Chancellor Angela Merkel, who received long applause before the election, was also there on Sunday. The list of voters also included celebrities such as national coach Hansi Flick, footballer Leon Goretzka or musician Roland Kaiser and scientists such as astronaut Alexander Gerst, virologist Christian Drosten and Biontech co-founder and vaccine developer Özlem Türeci. More than 70 replacements got their chance – partly because delegates with positive corona tests dropped out.
Source: Stern
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