The Federal Assembly 2022 comes together: It elects the Federal President. The outcome seems clear, but things could get exciting around it. News ticker.
- On February 13, the Federal Assembly meets to elect the Federal President*. Frank-Walter Steinmeier can hope for another term. His wife is already looking ahead (see first report).
- Angela Merkel* will also be present at the Federal Assembly (see update of February 13, 10:25 a.m.).
- However, former SPD leader Walter-Borjans cannot take part (see update of February 13, 10:55 a.m.).
- This News ticker for the Federal Assembly and the election of the Federal President is continuously updated.
Update from February 13, 11:15 a.m.: The election of the Federal President begins in three quarters of an hour. The 17th Federal Convention is bigger than ever. 1472 members have to find space – because of Corona this is not possible in the plenary hall of the Reichstag building. The congregation has to move to the Paul-Löbe-Haus next door. The eight-storey building with around 1000 offices and 21 conference rooms offers more space. The members of the Federal Assembly will be placed there on several levels – many of them will therefore only see the previous and probably new Federal President on the screen and not in person.
Election of the Federal President live: SPD celebrity not present at the Federal Assembly
Update from February 13, 10:55 a.m.: Television pictures already show some goings-on in the Paul-Löbe-Haus before the Federal Assembly elects the Federal President. Participants must be able to show a negative corona test. A well-known politician could not do that: the former SPD leader Norbert Walter-Borjans will not be there. “Would love to be there as an elector elected by the LT NRW. Had 4 negative rapid tests after my Covid recovery, but unfortunately still a weakly positive PCR on Friday,” he tweeted on Sunday morning. For such cases, however, there are substitute delegates so that the Federal Assembly can have a quorum.
Update from February 13, 10:25 a.m.: Many prominent faces will be present at the Federal Assembly in 2022, including national coach Hansi Flick and astronaut Alexander Gerst. They were sent by the state parliaments. Former Chancellor Angela Merkel is also one of these members. A country manager wants to use the opportunity for a special request*.
Federal Assembly 2022 live: the election process from 12 p.m
Update from February 13, 9:45 a.m.: At 12 noon a political highlight takes place in Berlin: the Federal Assembly meets. The session will be chaired by Bundestag President Bärbel Bas (SPD). She will give a speech at the opening. First of all, the parliamentary assembly sets its own rules of procedure, whereby the rules of procedure of the Bundestag are generally applied mutatis mutandis. In addition, secretaries are appointed. The President of the Bundestag will then read out the nominations received and finally open the first ballot. Each member of the Federal Assembly is called by name. Elections are made using concealed official ballot papers. When everyone is in, the secretaries count, which will take about an hour. The entire voting process is expected to take around two hours.
Will Steinmeier remain Federal President? Election on Sunday – First appearance in the morning
Update from February 13, 8:47 a.m.: Before the Federal Assembly begins at noon, there is another appointment on Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s agenda: participation in the ecumenical service. Together with his wife Elke Büdenbender he comes to St. Marienkirche. Steinmeier has the best chance of being able to fill another term as Federal President. His opponents Gerhard Trabert, Max Otte and Stefanie Gebauer seem to have no chance given the majority situation.
Update from February 13, 8:30 a.m.: The Federal Assembly meets in Berlin on Sunday to elect the next Federal President. It starts at 12 p.m. Incumbent Frank-Walter Steinmeier can count on a second five-year term. His three opponents are considered to have no chance.
The 17th Federal Assembly has 1472 members. It is the largest parliamentary assembly in Germany. Their sole task is to elect the head of state. The assembly consists of the 736 members of the Bundestag and the same number of representatives of the state parliaments.
So many eyes will be on Steinmeier this Sunday. But even ex-Chancellor Angela Merkel will not be able to move unnoticed. It is her first public political appearance in a long time. The CDU parliamentary group in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has nominated the former Chancellor for the Federal Assembly.
Presidential election 2022 on Sunday: Federal Assembly with Merkel – Steinmeier’s wife announces a new job
First report from February 12: Berlin – On Sunday, a body meets that usually only forms every five years: the Federal Assembly. It is about the election of the Federal President. Although the outcome of the election seems largely clear, the trappings on February 13th will be special again.
Frank-Walter Steinmeier should be able to add another term as Federal President. This is what politicians assume. Because with the support of the traffic light and the Union, he has a broad majority in the Federal Assembly – which, by the way, this time will also include ex-Chancellor Angela Merkel – behind him. It consists of a total of 1472 members, 736 members of the Bundestag and just as many delegates who send the 16 state parliaments. It’s supposed to start at 12 noon on Sunday.
Election by the Federal Assembly: “Frank-Walter Steinmeier is a very good Federal President”
Before the presidential election, several parliamentary groups came together for the final preparatory meetings. Incumbent Frank-Walter Steinmeier presented himself again to the SPD and CDU/CSU. He was already involved in an online conference with the Greens on Friday evening. “Frank-Walter Steinmeier* is a very good and highly respected Federal President,” said parliamentary group leaders Britta Haßelmann and Katharina Dröge afterwards.
There is no doubt about Steinmeier’s re-election. Nevertheless, he has opponents*. For the Left Gerhard Trabert goes into the race. The AfD suggested Max Otte – a personality that caused a lot of fuss beforehand. And the Free Voters nominated their own candidate again: Stefanie Gebauer.
Federal President: Steinmeier’s wife is looking forward to a possible second term
“If my husband is re-elected, that is a special reason for him and for me to be happy and grateful,” said Steinmeier’s wife Elke Büdenbender* before the election Funke media group. “I hope that the pandemic will give us the chance to really take off.”
For her, the possible second term will be different simply because she will also work as a judge. She loves her job and now, at 60, has the opportunity to go back to the Berlin Administrative Court. “I would also find it wrong to myself not to do that,” she said. But she wants to continue to work for young people and women, for participation, equality and educational equality. Therefore, “my husband and I are convinced that it is best if I go on to be both a judge and a first lady.”
![Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier speaks in Bellevue Palace (archive photo).](https://www.merkur.de/bilder/2022/02/12/91344892/28226568-bundespraesident-frank-walter-steinmeier-spricht-im-schloss-bellevue-archivbild-1z5tjBYMqgfe.jpg)
Presidential election 2022: Corona conditions are changing the situation
Visually, this federal assembly in 2022 will present different images than before. Because of Corona, the MPs and delegates meet on Sunday in the Paul-Löbe-Haus*, not in the plenary hall of the Reichstag building. In addition, everyone present needs a negative corona test. There is an FFP2 mask obligation and the obligation to keep a distance of 1.5 meters.
As head of state, the Federal President is the highest-ranking representative of the state in terms of protocol. He is responsible for tasks such as forming a government and drafting laws*. (cibo/dpa) * Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA.
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