Germany's FM Steinmeier May Become Next President

Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Party (CDU) has backed Social Democrat Frank-Walter Steinmeier to be the ruling coalition's candidate for the German presidency, following talks among party leaders on 14, Monday, according to DW.

The CDU's Bavarian sister-party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), also gave its backing for Steinmeier. "We have come to an agreement, CSU and CDU," CSU leader Horst Seehofer said. "That is what's important."

His candidacy was proposed by the Social Democrats leader Sigmar Gabriel, who is vice-chancellor and economy minister.

The CSU General Secretary, Andreas Scheuer, told German newspaper "Bild" that Steinmeier was "a good candidate, given this challenging time for foreign policy." Steinmeier has twice served as foreign minister in grand coalition governments, each time cooperating with the CDU/CSU and working under Merkel.

The presidential candidate will be approved on 12 February by the Constitutional Assebly. The mandate of the president in Germany is five years.