Berlin (dpa) – Frank-Walter Steinmeier is to stay Germany’s federal president. Within the very first poll on Sunday, the Federal Conference confirmed with a big majority that the 66-year-old would stay in workplace. Steinmeier, who was nominated by the governing SPD, Greens and FDP events, in addition to by the CDU/CSU opposition, acquired an approval ranking of round 73 p.c. He acquired 1,045 of the 1,425 legitimate votes and accepted the election instantly after the outcome was introduced. This makes Steinmeier solely the fifth federal president to serve a second time period.
The 66-year-old, who has put his SPD social gathering affiliation on maintain whereas head of state, has been federal president since 2017. He beforehand served as overseas minister from 2005 to 2009 after which once more from 2013 to 2017. He didn’t turn into the SPD’s candidate for chancellor within the 2009 federal election.
The Federal Conference is the most important parliamentary physique in Germany. Its sole job is to elect the top of state each 5 years. The Conference is made up of the members of the German Bundestag and an equal variety of members despatched by the 16 state parliaments.
Ex-Chancellor Angela Merkel, who acquired lengthy applause earlier than the election, was additionally current on Sunday. The checklist of electors included celebrities such because the nationwide coach Hansi Flick, the footballer Leon Goretzka and the musician Roland Kaiser, in addition to scientists such because the astronaut Alexander Gerst, the virologist Christian Drosten and Biontech co-founder and vaccine developer Özlem Türeci.