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Germany’s ruling coalition nominates Steinmeier for president

Steinmeier, in turn, stated his intention to assume the duties as the head of the state

German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier AP Photo/Markus Schreiber

German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier

© AP Photo/Markus Schreiber

BERLIN, November 16 /TASS/. Party bigwigs making up the German coalition (the Christian Democratic Union/CDU - Christian Social Union/CSU bloc and the Social Democratic Party of Germany) on Wednesday nominated German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier for president.

Angela Merkel, the head of the Christian Democratic Union, described Steinmeier as an ideal candidate whom most Germans trust. "He is a person who can be trusted. His experience and knowledge of the world will make him a good presidential candidate," she explained.

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Sigmar Gabriel, the leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany, also voiced support for his fellow party-member. He emphasized that Steinemier would contribute to promoting a dialogue in German society in his capacity as president. "I am sure that this trust is needed today at a time of change," Gabriel noted.

Horst Seehofer, the head of the Bavarian Christian Social Union, underlined that as a man of compromise Steinmeier was an ideal candidate for president. "He is suitable for this post both as an individual and a politician. He has vast experience in domestic and international affairs. All these qualities are in particularly high demand in our times," Seehofer stressed.

Earlier, the CDU, the CSU and the Social Democratic Party of Germany held several unproductive meetings on choosing a possible successor to incumbent German President Joachim Gauck. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Horst Seehofer did not want to throw support behind the Social Democrat nominee, Steinmeier, until the last minute.

Steinmeier, in turn, stated his intention to assume the duties as the head of state.

The German Federal Assembly is a special body, which will convene on February 12, 2017 to elect a new president. It consists of about 1,260 delegates, half of whom are Bundestag deputies. The other half consists of members of parliaments of German federal lands.

Incumbent German President Joachim Gauck said early in June that he had no plans to run for a second term.

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