German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier speaks at the Munich Security Conference on February 14, 2020.
Kuhlmann|Munich Security Conference
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier was re-elected for a 2nd regard to 5 years by an unique parliamentary assembly on Sunday and pledged to recover the injuries left by the coronavirus and battle the opponents of democracy.
The president was chosen with a huge bulk by an unique assembly comprised of the members of parliament’s lower home and agents of Germany’s 16 states.
Steinmeier had actually been backed by a lot of traditional political celebrations ahead of the election for the mainly ritualistic president.
“My responsibility is for all the people who live in our country. Non-partisan, yes — but I am not neutral when it comes to the cause of democracy. Whoever fights for democracy will have me on his side. Whoever attacks it will have me as an opponent,” Steinmeier stated in a speech to the unique assembly after accepting his election.
In response to the intensifying crisis on the border of Ukraine where Russia has actually massed well over 100,000 soldiers, Steinmeier alerted that “we are in the midst of the danger of a military conflict, a war in Eastern Europe — Russia bears the responsibility for this.”
“Russia’s troop buildup cannot be misunderstood. It is a threat to Ukraine and it is supposed to be one,” he included. “But the people there have a right to live without fear and threat, to self-determination and sovereignty. No country in the world has the right to destroy that — and whoever tries to do so, we will answer you decisively.”
The re-elected president pledged that he would continue to deal with enhancing democracy in Germany and assist remove worries of the future, providing the nation’s residents the self-confidence to manage the difficulties ahead. He likewise pledged to assist recover injuries developed by the coronavirus pandemic.
“Let us not underestimate the strength of democracy. But let us also not underestimate the challenges it faces,” Steinmeier stated. “Opponents of democracy, from without and within, are sowing doubts during this pandemic about our ability to act and our institutions, about free science and free media.”
But, Steinmeier worried, “the decisive breakthrough in the fight against the pandemic, the development of the vaccine in record time — that was achieved here, in free science, thanks to brilliant researchers and courageous entrepreneurs … in Germany, with our partners in Europe and the USA.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz praised Steinmeier, stating that “he has shown that he is in a position to talk directly to the people, to ensure solidarity in our society, but also to provide guidance.”
“That’s what we need right now with all the challenges we’re experiencing with regard to the pandemic, but also, of course, with regard to securing peace in Europe. He is the right president at exactly the right time,” Scholz stated.
Before very first ending up being president in 2017, Steinmeier, 66, served 2 stints as Chancellor Angela Merkel’s foreign minister and earlier was chief of personnel to Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.
Germany’s president has little executive power however is thought about an essential ethical authority. After an untidy parliamentary election lead to 2017, Steinmeier assisted prod political leaders to form a brand-new union federal government instead of claiming a brand-new vote.
