The Federal Assembly elected Frank-Walter Steinmeier as Federal President. With 1045 of 1437 votes cast, Steinmeier was confirmed in office with an absolute majority.
It was the end of May last year, the federal election campaign had not even really started when Frank-Walter Steinmeier made it clear: “I would like to stand for a second term as Federal President.” At the time, it was by no means foreseeable that his party colleague Olaf Scholz would take over the chancellorship in the fall, let alone Steinmeier having a secure majority in the Federal Assembly. But Steinmeier’s plan worked. Scholz became Chancellor, and serious competitors for the post of head of state did not even stand for election. The three candidates who ran against Steinmeier this Sunday were considered to have no chance, and the re-election of the Social Democrats was certain.