Does Germany need a President?

[Neil]

Republics are inherently foolish.

[OttoVonBismarck]

I would accept the crown of Germany.

[Razgovory]

I'll be President of Germany.  I'll take a quarter of the pay as well.

[Neil]

I would accept the crown of Germany.

You'd stoop to take a crown out of the gutter?

[Duque de Bragança]

Our president held a speech today at commemoration of Frederick the Great's 300th birthday. That's the kind of stuff he does, which is not much.

It's always better than portraying Frederick as an old, ugly-voiced woman like that Arte movie 

[The Brain]

Well he was a deserter.

[Zanza]

Wulff resigned his office today after state prosecutors had formally asked parliament to lift his legal immunity.

Berlin (CNN) -- Germany's President Christian Wulff announced his resignation Friday in a televised statement, following a series of scandals that prompted calls for him to stand down.

Germany "needs a president who can devote himself completely to national and international challenges," Wulff said in a statement.

"(Germany) needs a president who is supported by the trust of not just a majority, but a wide majority of citizens.

"The developments of the past days and weeks have shown that this trust and therefore confidence in my ability to serve have been adversely affected. For this reason, it is no longer possible for me to continue in my role as president."

The German presidency is a largely ceremonial office but Wulff's resignation will be seen as a blow to Chancellor Angela Merkel, who supported his candidacy as president.

In a separate televised statement, Merkel said Wulff had put the interests of the general public to the fore in deciding to resign.

The members of her governing coalition would now discuss who should stand for election in his place, she said, in consultation with other political parties.

Merkel had been due to meet Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti in Rome to discuss the eurozone crisis but canceled the trip amid the political storm over Wulff, who belongs to her party.

Wulff, who was the state premiere of Lower Saxony for seven years, was one of Merkel's biggest rivals within the Christian Democrats before being elected to the presidency in 2010.

It took three rounds of voting in the Reichstag, or German parliament, before he won enough backing from lawmakers to assume the role.

[jimmy olsen]

This goes more generally for all Presidential-Parliamentary democracies really:


I'm not keen on cold, honest politics.  I like the white lies and personality of an individual representing 'the nation'.  But he has a point.  What's the point of Presidents in Republics like Germany or Ireland or, from what I understand, Poland?

If someone else had asked I would have said no, but it has become manifestly clear to me, and I think others on Languish that if Sheilbh is for something politically then it can't help but be wrong. 

Thus I am forced to say yes.

[Eddie Teach]

Raz remains unmoved by the plight of a high official in government who doesn't have enough power.

You uncaring monster. 

[Sheilbh]

If someone else had asked I would have said no, but it has become manifestly clear to me, and I think others on Languish that if Sheilbh is for something politically then it can't help but be wrong. 

Thus I am forced to say yes.

Most of the time I'm just commenting and arguing not being for or against anything.  But there's a few exceptions like this.

Also you need to read what I said again because my answer was 'yes'

Why did he become President in the first place Zanza?

[Crazy_Ivan80]

the last time Germany unified the roles of president, chief executive and military commander it did not work out so well for them. It is better for those powers to be spread out.

Probably because an Austrian did it. They're not that good at keeping things together. Next time they should let german engineers design the thing :p

[Syt]

Why did he become President in the first place Zanza?

Because Merkel needed to get rid of a potential party rival. Generally, after being president your political carer is over.

[Sheilbh]

Why did he become President in the first place Zanza?

Because Merkel needed to get rid of a potential party rival. Generally, after being president your political carer is over.

I get that.  But why did he do it?  Tired?  Wanted an easier life?  Enjoyed the ceremonial stuff?

[Josephus]

Maybe they should combine the office of president and the office of chancellor.

[Iormlund]

Why did he become President in the first place Zanza?

Because Merkel needed to get rid of a potential party rival. Generally, after being president your political carer is over.

Silly Germans, that's what Brussels is for.