GERMANY: JOHANNES RAU ELECTED GERMAN PRESIDENT (2)

Описание: (23 May 1999) German/Nat

A federal assembly elected Johannes Rau as the nation's eighth postwar president on Sunday in a vote that marked another historic point in the government's return to Germany's prewar capital.

Rau, one of Germany's most prominent Social Democrats, was congratulated by Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder after the results were announced in the newly refurbished Reichstag.

Backed by both the governing Social Democrats and Greens parties, Rau won 690 votes in the 1,338-members assembly in the second round, held after he failed to win a simple majority in the first vote.

Rau, who succeeds President Roman Herzog, will be the first president of the democratic German Federal Republic to serve entirely from Berlin, which gradually is assuming the role of capital from Bonn.

The first important step was parliament's inaugural meeting in the Reichstag a month ago.

By September, the move will be complete with parliament, the chancellor and key ministries all operating from Berlin.

Rau failed to win a simple majority in the first vote but went on to win 690 votes in the 1,338-members assembly in the second round.

Dagmar Schipanski, candidate for the conservative opposition, won 572 votes and protest candidate Uta Ranke-Heinemann had 62 votes.

Five assembly members were not present, one vote was not valid and eight members abstained.

Mindful that the government's return to Berlin inspires uneasiness even among allies, Parliament president Wolfgang Thierse, leading the assembly, pledged the constancy of German democracy.

The public renewal of Germany's democratic commitment has particular resonance on this, the 50th anniversary of the Federal Republic's constitution, an event that marked the official birth of postwar German democracy.

Germany's presidency is the nation's highest office, but the post is largely ceremonial and the president is viewed as the nation's conscience.

Though the presidency is supposed to be above party politics, the front-runner to succeed Roman Herzog, Rau election was expected based on the strength of backing by the governing parties.

Rau, 68, who lost narrowly to Herzog five years ago, will be the first Social Democratic president since Gustav Heinemann (1969-74).

One of Germany's most prominent politicians, Rau governed North-Rhine Westphalia state for nearly two decades before giving up the post last year.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

SUPER CAPTION: Johannes Rau, German President

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