Voting is underway in the second round of elections to elect a new German president following the failure of Chancellor Angela Merkel`s candidate to secure the needed majority.
Christian Wulff, the Conservative candidate took 600 votes in the first round, 23 short of the absolute majority. The opposition Social Democrats` candidate, Joachim Gauck took 499 votes.
The third candidate, Lukrezia Jochimsem from the far-left Die Linke party took 126 votes. There were 13 abstentions and far-right candidate Frank Rennickenwon took three votes.
Observers believe Wulff`s failure to pass the first hurdle indicate that at least some of the politicians in Merkel`s camp either voted against him or abstained.
The Federal Convention of 1,244 members convened in Berlin to elect Germany`s next ceremonial head of state, a month after former president Horst Köhler stepped down in a surprise resignation, deemed as the first time in Germany`s recent history.
Merkel described Wulff as “a person I got to know during the time of Germany’s reunification. He is someone who is willing to try out new paths, someone who’s creative and open towards others. At the same time he’s someone who is rooted in a value system providing orientation.”
Many German`s however, disagree, viewing Wulff as a party politician deeply rooted in Merkel`s Christian Democrats having served as state premier of Lower Saxony for seven years and is also deputy party chairman of Merkel`s Christian Democratic Union. He is the joint candidate for president of the CDU and the Free Democrats, Merkel`s junior coalition partners.
German political commentators believe, Gauck, former East German rights activist is respected across the political spectrum and is therefore in a good position to win support from some members of Merkel’s governing coalition.
“Joachim Gauck is a candidate with a remarkable record behind him,” Social Democrat leader Sigmar Gabriel said. “The coalition’s nominee Wulff only has a political career.”
The leading contenders
Christian Wulff, 51 is member of Chancellor Merkel`s Christian Democrats. He is also backed by the liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP) and the Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU). Governor of Lower Saxony since 2003. Catholic and lawyer by profession. Would become Germany`s youngest president is elected.
Joachim Gauck, 70, is a Protestant pastor raised in East Germany. As director of the Stasi archives, he exposed crimes of former communist police. BBacked by the SPD, Alliance 90 and Greens but portrays himself as non-partisan and said to be unhappy his election might hard Chancellor Merkel.