Frank-Walter Steinmeier elected President of Germany

Frank-Walter Steinmeier is elected President of Germany. Most of the deputies of the Bundestag and representatives of 16 regions of the country voted for him.

Steinmeier was formerly Minister of Foreign Affairs. He retired in January 2017.

The election of Steinmeier strengthens the position of the Social Democratic Party, of which he is a member. German chancellor Angela Merkel did not want Steinmeier as president , but her Christian Democratic Union of Germany could not find a better candidate. In 2017, parliamentary elections will be held in Germany, and the Social Democrats are the main rivals of Merkel's party.

• The President of Germany performs representative functions. He has no real authority. A respected politician is usually elected to this post. Steinmeier is one of the most famous German politicians .
• Frank-Walter Steinmeier advocated the lifting of sanctions against Russia, subject to the observance of the Minsk agreements. He has also been critical of Donald Trump, calling him a "preacher of hate."