Likely next German president vows new political culture

By Ayhan Simsek

BERLIN

German government’s presidential candidate Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has vowed to, once elected, participate in tough debates to address domestic and international challenges.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Chancellor Angela Merkel and leaders of the ruling coalition, Steinmeier said he was aware of the difficult problems ahead, and was ready to assume responsibility.

“The incidents of our time, Brexit and its consequences for Europe, the elections in the U.S., the situation in Turkey – all of them represent a political earthquake,” Steinmeier said.

The 60-year-old called for a new political culture to address all these challenges.

“I would like to work towards a new political culture, in which we can quarrel with each other but also maintain respect,” he stressed.

The Social Democrat politician also vowed to address growing concerns of the German public for their security amid recent crises and reportedly uncontrolled refugee flows.

German Chancellor Merkel’s Christian Democratic bloc CDU/CSU and their coalition partner the Social Democratic Party (SPD) agreed this week to officially nominate current Foreign Minister Steinmeier as their joint candidate for the presidential election set for Feb. 12.

The president will be elected by the Federal Convention, a constitutional body consisting of all the lawmakers and representatives chosen by the federal states.

Following the agreement by the coalition partners, Steinmeier is likely to enter the election without a major challenge.

Current President Joachim Gauck, who did not seek a second five-year term, will leave office in March.