Frank-Walter Steinmeier- Re-elected German President

February 14, 2022

On February 13, 2022, a special parliamentary assembly re-elected German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier for a second term of five years.

Highlights

Steinmeier was endorsed for head of the state, ahead of the elections, by most mainstream political parties.
He was elected with a big majority by a special assembly comprising of the members of lower house of parliament and representatives of 16 states of Germany.
He became president in 2017. Before that, he served two stints as foreign minister of Chancellor Angela Merkel and as chief of staff to Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.

President of Germany

President of Germany has little executive power. However, it is considered an important moral authority. He is the head of the state. The president has ceremonial obligations, but also has the right and duty to act politically. They can provide direction to general societal & political debates. Article 81 and others of the Basic law provides them some important “reserve powers” in case of political instability. The president also has prerogative to grant pardons on behalf of federation.

Tenure of German Presidents

The German presidents can be elected for two consecutive five-year terms.

Parliamentary system in Germany

In accordance with 1949 constitution (Basic Law), Germany has a parliamentary system of government, where chancellor is the head of government.

About President Frank-Walter Steinmeier

He is a member of Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), holding a doctorate in law. He was formerly a career civil servant. He belongs to the right wing of SPD, called as reformists and moderates. He has been criticized for his lenient policies toward Russia & China and for prioritizing German business interests over human rights.

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