This Sunday, February 13, the Germans are voting to elect their president, a largely ceremonial post in Germany, where most of the power is held by the chancellor. Frank-Walter Steinmeier is a candidate for his own re-election and he is almost certain to win.
His role is essentially ceremonial, but the one who has held the position since 2017 is one of the most popular personalities in Germany: 70% positive opinion according to a poll carried out last fall. Aged 66, from a modest background, Frank-Walter Steinmeier owes his political rise to Gerhard Schröder, of whom he was the main adviser in the 2000s.
In 2009, Frank-Walter Steinmeier suffered a crushing defeat at the polls against Angela Merkel, which did not prevent him from becoming his foreign minister on several occasions. In 2017, he was appointed to the country’s presidency for a first term which will be marked in particular by the rise of the far right, and by the Covid-19. Frank-Walter Steinmeier then multiplies the speaking out to call for unity and solidarity in the face of the pandemic.
A valued leader
Very popular, the outgoing president could have suffered from the desire of German environmentalists to elect a woman for the first time in the country’s history. The Greens finally gave it up so as not to weaken Coalition which they have formed since last autumn with the Social Democrats and the Liberals.
On the strength of this support, Frank-Walter Steinmeier should be largely re-elected this Sunday by the Federal Assembly made up of deputies from the Bundestag and representatives of the German Länder.