German presidential election, 2009

In the election for President of Germany in 2009 by the 13 Federal Assembly Federal President Horst Köhler was re-elected in office.

By order of the President of the Bundestag Norbert Lammert on 8 May 2008, the Federal Assembly on 23 May 2009 was met in the Reichstag building in Berlin. The Federal Assembly belonged to the 612 members of the German Bundestag and 612 selected by the provincial members.

The current Federal President Horst Köhler stand again for the post. The SPD had its candidate from 2004, the political scientist Gesine Schwan, nominated again. Candidate of the Left Party was the actor Peter then; common candidate of the NPD and DVU was the songwriter Frank Rennick.

The parties who had called for a re-election Köhler (CDU, CSU, FDP and the group of voters of the Free Voters of Bavaria), possessed an absolute majority of the members of the 13th Federal Assembly, which is required in the presidential election on the first ballot.

Population surveys

According to a recent survey, in November 2008, 67 % of German citizens Horst Köhler, 12% and 8 % Gesine Schwan Peter then would vote for the President.

According to a research group - election survey on 8 May 2009 were 72 % of German citizens Horst Köhler, select 13% Gesine Schwan and 3 % Peter then.

A survey by the Institute for Allensbach on 19 May 2009 revealed that 60 % of German citizens for Köhler, 13 % for swan and 4% would vote for then, 23 % did not respond.

Composition of the 13 Federal Assembly

See also: List of members of the 13th Federal Assembly

• Candidates

Gesine Schwan (SPD )

Then Peter (The Left )

Frank Rennick (NPD / DVU )

Result

Berlin, May 23, 2009 - total votes in 1223 - absolute majority of 613 ( the right to vote: 1224 *)

* It held an absolute majority of the members, not the actually present or votes cast.

Margins during the election

The information that Horst Köhler was confirmed in office, was published by the Bundestag Julia Klöckner and Ulrich Kelber prematurely via the Internet service Twitter. Before Bundestag President Norbert Lammert could announce the official result of the counting of votes around 14:30 clock, Kelber told at 14:15 clock the result and 14:18 clock Klöckner that the ballot had been successful. Unlike Kelber Klöckner was involved as one of the 60 Secretary personally to the vote count, this raised questions about whether the secrecy of the ballot pursuant to § 9 para 3 and 4 of the Law on the Election of the Federal President has been maintained by the Federal Assembly. Another mistake was that the band prematurely entered the hall and the bouquets were distributed. Volker Beck commented 14:24 clock this on Twitter as a " protocol-related meltdown " and announced at 14:29 clock, trying to focus explicitly on this Council of Elders of the Bundestag. After the meeting, the council of elders regretted Bundestag President Norbert Lammert encountered mishaps.