<P> Germany has a parliamentary system of government in which the Chancellor is the nation's leading political figure and de facto chief executive . However, the President has a role which, while not the chief executive post, is more than ceremonial . Presidents have extensive discretion regarding the way they exercise their official duties . The President gives direction to general political and societal debates and has some important "reserve powers" in case of political instability (such as those provided for by Article 81 of the Basic Law). Under Article 59 (1) of the Basic Law (German Constitution), the President represents the Federal Republic of Germany in matters of international law, concludes treaties with foreign states on its behalf and accredits diplomats . Furthermore, all federal laws must be signed by the President before they can come into effect, but usually he or she only vetoes a law that he / she believes to violate the constitution . </P> <P> The President, by his or her actions and public appearances, represents the state itself, its existence, its legitimacy, and unity . The President's office involves an integrative role and the control function of upholding the law and the constitution . It is a matter of political tradition--not legal restrictions--that the President generally does not comment routinely on issues in the news, particularly when there is some controversy among the political parties . This distance from day - to - day politics and daily governmental issues allows the President to be a source of clarification, to influence public debate, to voice criticism, offer suggestions and make proposals . In order to exercise this power, he / she traditionally acts above party politics . </P> <P> The 12th and current officeholder is Frank - Walter Steinmeier who was elected on 12 February 2017 and started his first five - year - term on 19 March 2017 . </P> <P> The president is elected for a term of five years by secret ballot, without debate, by the Federal Convention which mirrors the aggregated majority situation of the Bundestag and the parliaments of the 16 German federal states . The convention consists of all Bundestag members as well as an equal number of electors elected by the state legislatures in proportion to their respective population (in total, the Federal Convention numbers more than 1000 members, as the Bundestag has at least 598 members and usually even more). However it is not required that state electors themselves be members of a legislature; often prominent citizens are chosen . </P>

Who has been appointed as the new president of germany