2004 German presidential election: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|None}} |
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{{Unreferenced|date=December 2009}} |
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{{Infobox |
{{Infobox election |
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| election_name = German presidential election |
| election_name = 2004 German presidential election |
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| country = Germany |
| country = Germany |
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| type = presidential |
| type = presidential |
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| ongoing = no |
| ongoing = no |
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| previous_election = German presidential election |
| previous_election = 1999 German presidential election |
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| previous_year = 1999 |
| previous_year = 1999 |
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| next_election = German presidential election |
| next_election = 2009 German presidential election |
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| next_year = 2009 |
| next_year = 2009 |
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| election_date = 23 May 2004 |
| election_date = 23 May 2004 |
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| image1 = [[File:Horst Köhler.jpg| |
| image1 = [[File:Horst Köhler.jpg|150x150px]] |
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| nominee1 = [[Horst Köhler]] |
| nominee1 = '''[[Horst Köhler]]''' |
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| party1 = CDU/CSU |
| party1 = CDU/CSU |
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| electoral_vote1 = 604 |
| electoral_vote1 = '''604''' |
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| percentage1 = 50.08% |
| percentage1 = '''50.08%''' |
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| image2 = [[File:Gesine Schwan in Heidelberg.jpg| |
| image2 = [[File:Gesine Schwan in Heidelberg.jpg|150x150px]] |
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| nominee2 = [[Gesine Schwan]] |
| nominee2 = [[Gesine Schwan]] |
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| party2 = Social Democratic Party of Germany |
| party2 = Social Democratic Party of Germany |
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| after_party = CDU/CSU |
| after_party = CDU/CSU |
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}} |
}} |
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An indirect presidential election (officially the 12th Federal Convention) was held in Germany on 23 May 2004. |
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| ⚫ | The [[ |
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| ⚫ | The [[president of Germany]] (''Bundespräsident'') was the titular head of state of the [[Federal Republic of Germany]]. Germany is today often referred to as a "chancellor democracy", reflecting the role of [[Chancellor of Germany|the chancellor]] as the country's chief executive, and so consequently the president's tasks are mostly ceremonial, but for the signing of all new federal laws before they go into effect. In practice however, all presidents have had informal influence on politics and society but mostly in a non-partisan way. |
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The president is not elected directly by the voters but by a special Federal Convention ([[Bundesversammlung (Germany)|Bundesversammlung]]) which is assembled every five years for this task alone. This body consists of the members of the [[Bundestag]] and an equal number of members selected by the [[States of Germany|sixteen federal state parliaments]]. |
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The president is not elected directly by the voters but by a special Federal Convention ([[Bundesversammlung (Germany)|Bundesversammlung]]) which is assembled every five years for this task alone, the exception being if the federal president’s term of office ends prematurely.<ref>{{Cite web |title=German Bundestag - Election of the Federal President |url=https://www.bundestag.de/en/parliament/function/federal_convention |access-date=2022-12-15 |website=German Bundestag |language=en}}</ref> This body consists of the members of the [[Bundestag]] and an equal number of members selected by the [[States of Germany|sixteen federal state parliaments]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Article: Election of the Federal President |url=https://www.bundespraesident.de/EN/Role-and-Functions/ConstitutionalBasis/Election-of-the-Federal-President/Elections-node.html |access-date=2022-12-15 |website=Der Bundespräsident |language=en}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | The election date was |
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| ⚫ | The election date was set for 23 May in [[Berlin]], the anniversary of the adoption of the [[Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany|German constitution]]. Of the 1,206 members only 549 belonged to the parties that controlled the federal government - the [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democrats]] (SPD) and the [[German Green Party]]. Also in their camp were the 31 members of the [[Party of Democratic Socialism (Germany)|Party of Democratic Socialism]] (PDS). The opposition parties, the ([[Christian Democratic Union (Germany)|Christian Democratic Union]]/[[Christian Social Union of Bavaria|Christian Social Union]] (CDU/CSU) and [[Free Democratic Party of Germany|Free Democratic Party]] (FDP)), however, had a majority of 624 members because they commanded more seats in the federal states. One member belonged to a regional party; one was non-aligned. |
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| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | Parties nominate candidates for the position, although the outcome of the election is very predictable because the members of the convention normally vote with strict party loyalty. As the majority of the opposition was not overwhelming (624 of 604 needed), "dissident" members could cause a surprise. |
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The CDU/CSU and FDP nominated [[Horst Köhler]]. He was head of the [[International Monetary Fund]] in [[Washington, D.C.]], and before that, in the eighties and nineties, he was a senior official and was involved in negotiating both the [[German reunification]] treaty and the [[Maastricht Treaty]] on behalf of the German government. He is said to be rather modest but independently minded. |
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CDU/CSU and FDP nominated [[Horst Köhler]], the head of the [[International Monetary Fund]] in [[Washington, D.C.]] Before that, he had been a senior official and was involved in negotiating both the [[German reunification]] treaty and the [[Maastricht Treaty]] on behalf of the German government. He is said to be rather modest but independently minded. |
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SPD and Greens had nominated [[Gesine Schwan]], the head of the [[Viadrina European University]] in [[Frankfurt (Oder)]]. She is a political scientist who also has been active for a long time in politics for the SPD - but has not always been in line with the party. |
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| ⚫ | |||
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| ⚫ | Köhler won in the first voting round, receiving an immediate absolute majority of 604 (50.1%). Schwan won 589 votes, apparently attracting opposition voters.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Köhler Elected German President – DW – 05/24/2004 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/k%C3%B6hler-elected-german-president/a-1211668 |access-date=2022-12-15 |website=dw.com |language=en}}</ref> |
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{| class="wikitable" |
{| class="wikitable" |
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| Line 57: | Line 59: | ||
| 604 |
| 604 |
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| 50.1% |
| 50.1% |
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| [[Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands|CDU]] |
| [[Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands|CDU]]/[[Christian Social Union in Bavaria|CSU]], [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|FDP]] |
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|- |
|- |
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| [[Gesine Schwan]] |
| [[Gesine Schwan]] |
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| 589 |
| 589 |
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| 48.9% |
| 48.9% |
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| [[Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands|SPD]] |
| [[Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands|SPD]], [[Alliance 90/The Greens|The Greens]] |
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|} |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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{{German presidential elections}} |
{{German presidential elections}} |
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[[Category:Presidential elections in Germany|2004]] |
[[Category:Presidential elections in Germany|2004]] |
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[[Category:2004 elections in Germany|Presidential election]] |
[[Category:2004 elections in Germany|Presidential election]] |
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[[Category:May 2004 events]] |
[[Category:May 2004 events in Germany|Presidential election]] |
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[[Category:Horst Köhler]] |
[[Category:Horst Köhler]] |
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Latest revision as of 21:06, 3 May 2024
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An indirect presidential election (officially the 12th Federal Convention) was held in Germany on 23 May 2004.
The president of Germany (Bundespräsident) was the titular head of state of the Federal Republic of Germany. Germany is today often referred to as a "chancellor democracy", reflecting the role of the chancellor as the country's chief executive, and so consequently the president's tasks are mostly ceremonial, but for the signing of all new federal laws before they go into effect. In practice however, all presidents have had informal influence on politics and society but mostly in a non-partisan way.
The president is not elected directly by the voters but by a special Federal Convention (Bundesversammlung) which is assembled every five years for this task alone, the exception being if the federal president’s term of office ends prematurely.[1] This body consists of the members of the Bundestag and an equal number of members selected by the sixteen federal state parliaments.[2]
The election date was set for 23 May in Berlin, the anniversary of the adoption of the German constitution. Of the 1,206 members only 549 belonged to the parties that controlled the federal government - the Social Democrats (SPD) and the German Green Party. Also in their camp were the 31 members of the Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS). The opposition parties, the (Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) and Free Democratic Party (FDP)), however, had a majority of 624 members because they commanded more seats in the federal states. One member belonged to a regional party; one was non-aligned.
Parties nominate candidates for the position, although the outcome of the election is very predictable because the members of the convention normally vote with strict party loyalty. As the majority of the opposition was not overwhelming (624 of 604 needed), "dissident" members could cause a surprise.
CDU/CSU and FDP nominated Horst Köhler, the head of the International Monetary Fund in Washington, D.C. Before that, he had been a senior official and was involved in negotiating both the German reunification treaty and the Maastricht Treaty on behalf of the German government. He is said to be rather modest but independently minded.
SPD and Greens had nominated Gesine Schwan, the head of the Viadrina European University in Frankfurt (Oder). She is a political scientist who also has been active for a long time in politics for the SPD - but has not always been in line with the party.
All eight preceding presidents had been men. Once in office, the president can be subsequently re-elected only once. The previous president Johannes Rau (SPD) cited personal reasons for his decision not to run for a second term and died in 2006.
Köhler won in the first voting round, receiving an immediate absolute majority of 604 (50.1%). Schwan won 589 votes, apparently attracting opposition voters.[3]
| Round | Candidate | Votes | % | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First round | Horst Köhler | 604 | 50.1% | CDU/CSU, FDP |
| Gesine Schwan | 589 | 48.9% | SPD, The Greens |
References[edit]
- ^ "German Bundestag - Election of the Federal President". German Bundestag. Retrieved 2022-12-15.
- ^ "Article: Election of the Federal President". Der Bundespräsident. Retrieved 2022-12-15.
- ^ "Köhler Elected German President – DW – 05/24/2004". dw.com. Retrieved 2022-12-15.
