Current content on the activities of the Federal President

Inaugural visit by Finnish President Alexander Stubb

The Federal President received the President of the Republic of Finland on 8 May.

Federal President Steinmeier and the Finnish President, Alexander Stubb, walk side by side on a red carpet

Federal President Steinmeier hosts French President Macron for a state visit

At the invitation of Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, will pay a state visit to Germany from 26 to 28 May.

Federal president Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the french president Emmanuel Macron meet at the car

Visit to the Czech Republic

Federal President Steinmeier payed a visit to the Czech Republic from 29 to 30 April 2024. Along with the close relations between Germany and Czechia, the trip's focus was on the 20th anniversary of the EU's Eastern enlargement and the 100th anniversary of Franz Kafka's death.

Welcome by the Czech President, Petr Pavel

News

"Our strength lies in joint action"

format: Speech

Prague/Czech Republic, , 30 April 2024

Federal president Steinmeier is holding a speech at the conference "20 Years of Czechia in the EU: A Vision for an Enlarged Europe"

Visit to the Czech Republic

format: Report

29 April 2024

"German-Turkish exchange has never been merely a one-way street"

format: Speech

Istanbul/Turkey, , 22 April 2024

"Germany is a country with a migrant background"

format: Speech

Istanbul/Turkey, , 22 April 2024

Federal President Steinmeier visited the Republic of Turkey

format: Report

22 April 2024

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is welcomed by the President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, at the Presidential Palace

75th Anniversary of NATO

format: Report

4 April 2024

On the occasion of NATO's 75th anniversary, the NATO flag is flying in front of Schloss Bellevue on April 4

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The Federal President

More about Frank-Walter Steinmeier More about Elke Büdenbender

Bundespräsident Frank-Walter Steinmeier und Elke Büdenbender begrüßen die Gäste des Bürgerfestes (Archivbild)

Role and Functions

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Head of State

The Basic Law, Germany’s constitution, devotes an entire chapter to the Federal President. Besides the tasks and powers outlined in this section, others are described elsewhere in the constitution or in other laws, and still more have simply become established over time.

Blick in den Bundestag bei der Bundesversammlung (Archiv)

Honours and decorations

Honouring individuals who have rendered distinguished services to the nation has traditionally been one of the head of state's duties. In the Federal Republic of Germany, as in nearly all countries in the world, honours and decorations are awarded as a way of paying public tribute to an outstanding individual.