Haltickling
2nd Level Green Feather
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2001
- Messages
- 4,353
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As per today, Germany has got a new Federal President: Horst Köhler.
The Federal President is the official Head of State, but he's actually little more that Germany's highest representative. According to our constitution, he has to sign all laws which are pased by parliament. He's got the right to refuse, then Parliament must go through the law-making process again, but then the President's signature is no longer necessary. German politics are directed by the Chancellor and his government, not by the President.
As it's not a very political office, the Federal President isn't elected directly by the people, but by a "Federal Assembly", formed by representatives of the Federation and the individual Federal States. The Federal President is elected for five years.
Horst Köhler was, until recently, president of the IMF (International Monetary Fund). He's a renowned economical authority, and Germany hopes for his help to get out of its present, desperate situation.
The Federal President is the official Head of State, but he's actually little more that Germany's highest representative. According to our constitution, he has to sign all laws which are pased by parliament. He's got the right to refuse, then Parliament must go through the law-making process again, but then the President's signature is no longer necessary. German politics are directed by the Chancellor and his government, not by the President.
As it's not a very political office, the Federal President isn't elected directly by the people, but by a "Federal Assembly", formed by representatives of the Federation and the individual Federal States. The Federal President is elected for five years.
Horst Köhler was, until recently, president of the IMF (International Monetary Fund). He's a renowned economical authority, and Germany hopes for his help to get out of its present, desperate situation.
