Maldives congratulates Germany's new president-elect
Frank-Walter Steinmeier was elected the 12th President of Germany, on Sunday
Former Foreign Minister Steinmeier was elected as Germany's 12th president
“Germany is an important partner of the Maldives,” said President Abdulla Yameen is his congratulatory message to Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the newly elected president of Germany.
The President sent a congratulatory message to the President elect on Monday, after he won Sunday’s election, with 931 of the 1,239 valid votes by lawmakers and representatives of Germany’s 16 federal states.
“The Maldives and Germany have enjoyed, long standing relations, and 2016 marked the 50th anniversary of the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between both our countries,” reads the President’s message.
He added that Germany “is an important partner of the Maldives,” and that he “firmly” believes that, under newly elected president Steinmeier’s leadership, both countries “will continue to develop dynamic, mutually beneficial relations, especially in the fields of climate change, economy and counter-terrorism.”
Steinmeier, who previously served as Germany's Foreign Minister from 2005 to 2009, and from 2013 to 2017, was elected the 12th president of the country on Sunday. He will take office on March 18.
A member of the Social Democratic Party, Steinmeier in his acceptance speech said that Germany "should be an anchor of hope."
Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is seeking a fourth term, said that she has faith that Steinmeier will lead Germany "in these difficult times."
President Joachim Gauck
President Gauck is to step down on March 18
Sunday's election was held after President Joachim Gauck revealed that he will not stand a second term despite appeals for him to stay in office. Elected in March 2012, Gauck's term will end this March.
Noting that it was a hard decision for him to make, Gauck had said that he did not want to "commit" himself for a further period of five years, as he could not guarantee that he "will have the adequate amount of energy and vitality that is required."
"How one considers one’s own age is a very individual, very personal question. This is the way I have answered it for myself, " he added.
President Gauck is to step down on March 18.
Before revealing his decision to step down, President Gauck had hinted that he wanted a Muslim to succeed him.
