Federal President?

Ampel-Minister Lindner and FDP have made a decision - "Future after Corona"

Created: 12/22/2021, 9:15 PM

By: Patrick Mayer

Federal Minister of Finance: Christian Lindner from the FDP.

© IMAGO / photothek

Christian Lindner and the FDP decide who in their opinion should be Federal President from 2022.

The vote puts the Greens in the traffic light federal government under pressure.

Munich / Berlin - He (or she) is the head of state of the Federal Republic of Germany.

The Basic Law (GG), the constitution, says nothing less about the function and role of the Federal President.

It is a role that Frank-Walter Steinmeier has played since March 2017.

Among other things, he recently appointed Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and his traffic light minister, for example Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD).

Federal President election in Germany: FDP speaks out in favor of Frank-Walter Steinmeier

The 65-year-old Westphalian will continue to receive state guests at Bellevue Palace in Berlin's government district.

At least it goes according to the traffic light party FDP.

Because: Around eight weeks before the election of the future Federal President, the FDP leadership has spoken out in favor of Steinmeier's second term in office.

"Mr. Steinmeier is an outstanding personality and in times of social polarization has made a contribution to the cohesion in our country," said FDP federal chairman Christian Lindner on Wednesday in Berlin: "We can see that he is ready for office a second time with sympathy and great respect. "

In the video: Frank-Walter Steinmeier addresses the traffic light government of Olaf Scholz

The FDP parliamentary groups in the federal and state levels had pleaded to support Steinmeier in his candidacy for a second term, said Lindner.

Incumbent Steinmeier submitted his application publicly in May and said: "I would like to accompany our country on its way into the future, a future after the pandemic, a future after Corona."

Striking: At this point in time, there was little to suggest that a traffic light government led by an SPD Chancellor Olaf Scholz could provide the new federal government.

Steinmeier's application seemed bold, but not very promising.

When SPD woman Bärbel Bas became President of the Bundestag, the problem of a lack of gender equality in the top offices of the republic was also resolved.

Federal President Election in Germany: Are the Greens for Frank-Walter Steinmeier too?

The question remains what the Greens have in mind as a third coalition partner in the federal government.

If they were to prevent Steinmeier's election to the Federal Assembly on February 13th - there would be an abrupt end to the red-green-yellow harmony.

How the Greens position themselves, whether they support Steinmeier or put up their own candidate, was still unclear until shortly before Christmas 2021.

The FDP has committed itself.

Mr. Steinmeier is an outstanding personality.

FDP leader Christian Lindner

The chairman of the Bundestag parliamentary group, Christian Dürr, said this Wednesday that especially in times of crisis, a federal president should have a reconciling effect and integrate. "During the corona pandemic, Frank-Walter Steinmeier sought dialogue with the citizens. He has ensured continuity, and I am sure that he will reliably guide the country through this crisis in his second term of office, ”said Dürr. The renewed application of the longtime SPD politician met with great approval from the Social Democrats.

The traffic light parties SPD, Greens and FDP have a majority in the election of the Federal President in the Federal Assembly.

Lindner had signaled early on that the FDP would support Steinmeier.

His deputy Wolfgang Kubicki even pleaded for a second term in office for Steinmeier in 2019.

At the time, his justification was: "He is doing an excellent job."

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