Berlin 12 Feb (ANA) - Former German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has been elected president by a parliamentary assembly.

The Social Democrat, 61, is popular, scoring highly in opinion polls. The post is largely ceremonial, but the president represents Germany abroad and is seen as carrying moral weight. During the US election campaign, the usually circumspect former lawyer described Donald Trump as a "hate preacher" and predicted more challenging relations with Washington. Mr Steinmeier was chosen by the Federal Assembly meeting in parliament in Berlin. The assembly groups 1,260 lawmakers and representatives from various social fields delegated by Germany's 16 states. Electors included Olivia Jones, a colourful drag queen sent to vote by the Green Party in Lower Saxony. Mr Steinmeier, who takes up the post on 19 March, held the post of foreign minister twice for a total of eight years. Both terms were served under Chancellor Angela Merkel in grand coalitions of Christian Democrats and Social Democrats. In 2009, he stood unsuccessfully against Mrs Merkel in the federal election.(ANA)

FA/ANA/12 February 2017------