Steinmeier swiftly 12th President of Federal Republic

berlin - The German Social Democratic ex-Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier can count on Sunday in Berlin that he be chosen quickly twelfth President of the Federal Republic. This was said by the leader of the Christian Democrats in the Bundestag, Volker Kauder, Friday in an interview with a German newspaper.

Kauder stressed that not only the Social Democrats SPD will vote for their Steinmeier, but also the Christian Democrats behind him. Kauders estimate is actually still cautious, because the Greens and the liberal FDP support Steinmeier. It seems so easy to get an absolute majority.

Die Linke have scientist Christoph Butter Tucked as a candidate for the post. Alternative for Germany is co-founder and party spokesman Albrecht Glaser, the Piratenpartei Engelbert Sonne Source and the judge Alexander Hold candidate for Freie Wähler from the parliament of Bavaria.

The successor Joachim Gauck as Germany ceremonial president is elected by the Bundesversammlung. Which for the occasion is formed from all the members of the Bundestag (631 people), plus an equal number of delegates elected by the states. An elected member, former Prime Minister of Schleswig-Holstein Peter Carstensen, announced unfortunately not be able to get votes because his dachshund is seriously ill.

The German president has virtually no political power, but enjoys much respect. He can stop a law if he believes that this is contrary to the Constitution. That's ever occurred. At the request of a chancellor who loses a majority in parliament, the president can dissolve parliament and launch new elections. This is three times the case.