🇩🇪 German presidential election 2022 (federal convention: February 13)

[President Johnson]

The Federal Convention is expected to meet on February to decide upon the presidency of Germany. Although the president is the head of state, the office is largely ceremonial.

The Federal Convention consists of all the members of the current Bundestag (736 members) and an equal number of state electors, that is distributed on the sixteen states of Germany in proportion to the states respective population. The state electors are elected by the state parliaments.

An absolute majority of 737 votes is needed in the first round. If none is reached, a second ballot would take place. In a third round, a pluarality is enough.

Incumbent President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (SPD) already announced last year that he's available for a second five year term. Steinmeier twice served as Foreign Minister in two Merkel cabinets before (2005-2009, 2013-2017) and was Gerhard Schröder's chief of staff (head of chancellery) before. In 2009, he was SPD's candidate for chancellor and subsequently leader of the opposition. In 2017, then SPD leader Sigmar Gabriel convinced CDU/CSU to back Steinmeier for president, and he was elected with support from the Greens and FDP as well.

FDP-Leader and Finance Minister Christian Lindner already confirmed his party's support for the president's reelection. The Greens were more hesitant lately, as some of their members finally wanted a woman in the position. However, now that their governing partners SPD and FDP want Steinmeier, the Green Party today announced their backing of Steinmeier. Traffic light coalition already has own majority in the Federal Convention (776 seats). CDU/CSU are still in the decision making process. After the Greens today voiced support for Steinmeier, some sources now say the Union tends to endorse Steinmeier as well, as he's a pretty popular president.

https://twitter.com/MKuefner/status/1478354091285880835

[President Johnson]

CDU/CSU today declined to nominate an own candidate for the presidency. So this pretty much seals the deal for Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who's assured to win a second term with a large majority in the Federal Convention. Laschet and Söder announced the decision today, both pledging continuity in these times and claiming that Steinmeier is well respected at home and abroad.

I actually expected them to nominate a contender, especially a woman (like AKK) any try to get some votes from the Greens.

Definitely a good move, as Steinmeier has been an outstanding president.

https://twitter.com/MKuefner/status/1478652901459468289

[Astatine]

Considering the mode of election and that it's clear to begin with who'll win doesn't this qualify as "electoral type event" according to Atlas standards?

[CumbrianLefty]

Indeed, will there be any opposition at all?

[jeron]

Indeed, will there be any opposition at all?

There probably will be. During the last 30 years there have always been at least 2 candidates and Die Linke usually supports its own or an independent candidate.

[MaxQue]

Indeed, will there be any opposition at all?

There was 5 candidates last time. Steinmeyer, an independent backed by Die Linke, an AfD one, a FW one and an independent backed by the Pirates.

In 2012, there was an independent backed by Die Linke and another one backed by the NPD.

[President Johnson]

Indeed, will there be any opposition at all?

There probably will be. During the last 30 years there have always been at least 2 candidates and Die Linke usually supports its own or an independent candidate.

I'm not sure Die Linke will do so this time. At least some of their rank and file politicians like Bodo Ramelow spoke high of Steinmeier.

AfD will definitely run somebody, who obviously has no chance at all.

[Middle-aged Europe]

The Left has nominated the physician Gerhard Trabert for President.

An Independent, Trabert had unsuccessfully run for the Left in the 2021 Bundestag election.

He is a recipient of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany for his activities in providing medical treatment for homeless people.

[Sozialliberal]

Indeed, will there be any opposition at all?

There probably will be. During the last 30 years there have always been at least 2 candidates and Die Linke usually supports its own or an independent candidate.

I'm not sure Die Linke will do so this time. At least some of their rank and file politicians like Bodo Ramelow spoke high of Steinmeier.

AfD will definitely run somebody, who obviously has no chance at all.

Steinmeier is too centrist to gain the support of Die Linke as a whole. Ramelow did endorse Steinmeier in May last year, but he's an untypical representative of his party. A relative moderate, Ramelow is able to win state elections in Thuringia, but that also means he's sometimes at odds with more radical members of his party. What Winfried Kretschmann is for the Greens, Bodo Ramelow is for Die Linke. The only way the SPD could win over Die Linke is by putting up a candidate who is too leftist for CDU/CSU and FDP to support. Obviously, the SPD isn't going to do that because it is in coalition with the FDP, but it also wouldn't be wise. Our society is already quite polarized, and the last thing we need is a polarizing head of state.

[President Johnson]

AfD has nominated Max Otte as their candidate. He's chairman of the so-called Werteunion ("values union"), an unofficial organization of very conservative CDU members. Otte has formally accepted the nomination now, prompting a controversy with his party. The CDU board just moved ahead to expel him from the party as a CDU resolution rules out any cooperation with AfD.

https://twitter.com/dwnews/status/1486013493081956360

[Pick Up the Phone]

How are “Germany’s conservatives in an awkward position”? First of all, the CDU is not a conservative party. Second, Otte may be a member but holds no party office. And third, kicking him out is by no means controversial - there is literally zero intra-party support for him.

Deutsche Welle really is a joke sometimes.

[Astatine]

How are “Germany’s conservatives in an awkward position”? First of all, the CDU is not a conservative party. Second, Otte may be a member but holds no party office. And third, kicking him out is by no means controversial - there is literally zero intra-party support for him.

Deutsche Welle really is a joke sometimes.

huh what

[Middle-aged Europe]

And now there's a four candidate: The Free Voters have nominated physicist Stefanie Gebauer for President.

Now we're complete, all parties in the Federal Assembly have nominated someone:

Frank-Walter Steinmeier (SPD) - supported by SPD, CDU/CSU, Greens, FDP, SSW
Max Otte (CDU, suspended) - supported by AfD
Gerhard Trabert (non-partisan) - supported by Left
Stefanie Gebauer (Free Voters) - supported by Free Voters

[Pick Up the Phone]

How are “Germany’s conservatives in an awkward position”? First of all, the CDU is not a conservative party. Second, Otte may be a member but holds no party office. And third, kicking him out is by no means controversial - there is literally zero intra-party support for him.

Deutsche Welle really is a joke sometimes.

huh what

Well, the party has never been ‘conservative’ since the early 2000s. It is a center to center-right party, far more centrist than most other EPP parties (not to speak of ECR parties...) and ideologically flexible enough to govern with everyone but the extremes. More generally, Christian Democracy as such is distinct from conservatism - especially in an international/global context where the latter has a wide range of meanings.

The CDU has even repeatedly rejected the “conservatism” label in recent years. And quite explicitly so.

[Keep Calm and ...]

Results of the 17th Federal Convention:
https://twitter.com/EuropeElects/status/1492853246242828290
https://twitter.com/Wahlrecht_de/status/1492853786083307520

[President Johnson]

Congratulations to President Steinmeier! In my opinion the best president in post-war German history. He also gave a very strong speech in the aftermath, championing democracy and dennouncing authoritarianism, including calling out Putin by name.

I actually expected him to win more votes, though. It's actually a slightly smaller vote share (71%) than last time (74%).

https://twitter.com/dw_politics/status/1492881519639252995

[Astatine]

Congratulations to President Steinmeier! In my opinion the best president in post-war German history. He also gave a very strong speech in the aftermath, championing democracy and dennouncing authoritarianism, including calling out Putin by name.

I actually expected him to win more votes, though. It's actually a slightly smaller vote share (71%) than last time (74%).

Now that's a bold take.

[President Johnson]

Congratulations to President Steinmeier! In my opinion the best president in post-war German history. He also gave a very strong speech in the aftermath, championing democracy and dennouncing authoritarianism, including calling out Putin by name.

I actually expected him to win more votes, though. It's actually a slightly smaller vote share (71%) than last time (74%).

Now that's a bold take.

It is, that's why I wrote "in my opinion". Franky Boy is at least my favorite.

[Ethelberth]

Germany continues with a Calvinist President. He comes from Lippe, that only Reformed state within Germany.