Germany elected a new president, Christian Wulff, 51, on Wednesday. The federal assembly voted 625-494 in Berlin to appoint Wulff, who was previously a state premier, to the post. 

But it took three rounds of voting to get Wulff elected, a humiliation for Chancellor Angela Merkel and her fragile coalition with the Free Democrats.
(Photo: Wulff with wife Bettina and oldest daughter Annelena.)

Wulff replaces Horst Köhler,Koehler who resigned last month amid criticism of his suggestion that the Bundeswehr might also serve to protect Germany's economic interests.

The war in Afghanistan is already widely unpopular in Germany and Koehler saw himself faced with mounting criticism and pressure after his controversial comments.

Critics said the tortuous voting reflected the lack of unity of Chancellor Merkel's fragile coalition government which includes the pro business Free Democrats (FDP).

Merkel, who grew up in Communist East Germany, has also come under attack from conservative members of her party, the Christian Democrats (CDU). They blame her for the "socialization' of the party. 

Another reason for the long vote is the popularity of Gauck, who was backed by the Social Democrats, the Green Party, and many average Germans.

If the German president were elected by popular vote, political observers believe Gauck, photo, would have won hands down.

The Bundesversammlung is made up of the members of the Bundestag (Parliament) and an equal number of representatives from the 16 German states, including prominent non-politicians. They vote their conscience and are not bound by party affiliation.

The Left Party candidate, Luc Jochimsen, dropped out for the third vote, paving the way for Wulff's election. Only a relative majority is required for the third vote.

The Left Party refused to back Gauck, a former East German peace activist who, after reunification, was put in charge of uncovering crimes commited by East German communists, the secret state police (Stasi), in particular. The founders of the Left Party include former East German party officials. 

Wulff spent most of his career as a provincial political leader rounding up the votes for Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
A conservative lawyer, he was premier of the north-western state of Lower Saxony from 2003 until his election.

That office made him a key figure in Europe's biggest automotive group Volkswagen, which is the biggest enterprise in the state. Though Lower Saxony is a minority shareholder, it controls Volkswagen and the premier sits on the board. Wulff led the fight to defeat a takeover bid by carmaker Porsche, and Volkswagen took over Porsche instead.

Asked what his foreign-policy approach would be in the presidency, Wulff has said he will continue his predecessor Horst Köhler's focus on the African continent, but also pay 'special attention' to Asia's large emerging economies, in particular China and India.

He adds he has developed special ties of his own to Japan and would also help deepen Germany's relationship with the United States.

In Lower Saxony, Wulff has been admired as a consensus politician who nevertheless has a tough, indomitable core.
He has spent most of his life in politics, starting at grassroots level in the youth section and working his way up the career ladder in the CDU, a center-right party that seeks to balance the interests of business and workers.

He lost races for the state premiership twice, against Social Democrat Gerhard Schröder (later German chancellor), but triumphed at the third attempt. He is the youngest person ever appointed to become president.

Germany's head of state is elected by an electoral college, not a popular vote.

'He is the CDU personified,' said the unsuccessful Left Party candidate Luc Jochimsen. She withdrew her namefor the third round where a simply majority of the Bundesversammlung is required.

Wulff is associated with the Catholic wing of the Christian Democrats. After he divorced his wife and married his long-time girlfriend in 2006, Catholic voters remained unfazed, voting for him as premier yet again.

He has a teenage daughter from his first marriage. He and second wife Bettina have one son, aged 2.

germerica/agencies