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Federal President Steinmeier: Green light for second term
Photo: Bernd von Jutrczenka / dpa
Nothing stands in the way of a second term in office for Frank-Walter Steinmeier as Federal President. On Monday, the Union also formally endorsed the traffic light parties' plan to nominate Steinmeier again as a candidate for the highest state office. A letter to the President of the Bundestag Bärbel Bas (SPD), which was sent in the evening, was signed by the seven chairmen of the SPD, Greens, FDP, CDU and CSU and the respective parliamentary group leaders. The letter is available to SPIEGEL.
With the letter, the parties want to send a signal of unity and make it clear that the decision on the Federal President is not part of a political dispute. Behind the scenes, the signing was preceded by telephone negotiations, initiated by SPD leader Lars Klingbeil. The largest possible alliance was important to the Social Democrats so that Steinmeier's nomination would not appear as partisan political manoeuvres. According to SPIEGEL information, the new CDU chairman Friedrich Merz was also involved in the discussions about the joint letter, but he left the decision on the signature to Armin Laschet, who is still CDU chairman until the written confirmation of the party congress result.
Steinmeier is standing for re-election in the Federal Assembly on February 13.
He can count on a large majority.
His announcement last year that he would run again was initially controversial.
After a long debate, however, the Union and the Greens also decided to support Steinmeier.
On Monday, the Federal President once again intervened in the debate about the right way to fight the pandemic.
During a round of talks, he called on the population to do something to counter hate and violence.
Steinmeier demanded that the "silent center" must become more visible and self-confident.
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