Billed as Germany’s “anti-Trump”, former foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier was elected Sunday as the new head of state, vowing to stand up to simplistic populist rhetoric.
The 61-year-old, who regularly polls as Germany’s most popular politician, will represent the EU’s top economy abroad in the largely ceremonial post and act as a kind of moral arbiter for the nation.
His Social Democrats (SPD) hope the appointment will boost their fortunes just as their candidate Martin Schulz, the former European parliament president, readies to challenge Chancellor Angela Merkel in September elections.
Accepting the five-year post, Steinmeier said he would promote dialogue and democracy in …read more
Source: Gulf times
