2nd LD: Frank-Walter Steinmeier elected as new German president

German Federal Assembly on Sunday elected former foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier as German president.

Steinmeier won absolute majority with 931 of 1239 votes, far beyond the votes got by candidates from other parties or as independents.

German local media have long speculated Steinmeier as the obvious winner, since he got the grand governing coalition as well as the influential Social Democratic Party of Germany on his back.

On Saturday evening, Angela Merkel and Horst Lorenz Seehofer, representing the center-left and center-right political union, called for support for Steinmeier, saying he would be the right person to represent Germany.

Steinmeier is one of Germany's well known politicians, having twice served as foreign minister, from 2005 to 2009 and again from 2013 until this year, and was known for his efforts trying to mediate the crisis in Ukraine. Also he once served as vice chancellor from 2007 to 2009.

Some German media described him as "pragmatic, assertive and popular."

Steinmeier is set to formally assume office on March 18.

The outgoing president Gauck announced last year he would not seek another five-year tenure citing his age as the reason.

Germany's presidential post is more ceremonial than executive, giving direction to general political and societal debates. But the vote is widely seen as a test for the unity of Merkel's political coalition, as well as a prelude for Merkel's campaign seeking her fourth term in the federal election in September. Enditem