On February 13, 2022, a special parliamentary assembly re-elected German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier for a second term of five years.
Steinmeier’s run for the presidency was supported by most mainstream political parties, prior to the elections.
He was elected by a large majority of members of the lower house of parliament and a special assembly of representatives from the 16 states of Germany.
He became president in 2017. Prior to this, he had served two terms as Foreign Minister to Chancellor Angela Merkel and Chief of Staff to Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.
The President of Germany has little executive power. However, it is considered an important moral right. He is the head of the country. The President has formal obligations, but also has the authority and duty to act politically. They can provide direction to general social and political debate. The President also has the privilege of granting pardons on behalf of the federation.
