Current content on the activities of the Federal President

State visit by Italian President Sergio Mattarella

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender will receive Italian President Sergio Mattarella and his daughter Laura Mattarella for a state visit to Germany from 26 to 28 September 2024.

Federal President Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender welcoming President Mattarella and Laura Mattarella

The Federal President's citizens' festival

“Pamoja – Stronger Together” was the motto for this year’s citizens’ festival, which Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender hosted in the grounds of Schloss Bellevue on 13 and 14 September.

Bundespräsident Steinmeier und Elke Büdenbender winken zur Begrüßung der Gäste von der Terasse von Schloss Bellevue

Visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier visits the Arab Republic of Egypt from 10 to 12 September.

Federal president Steinmeier is leaving the airplane after the arrival at the airport in Cairo

News

Opening of the Federal President's citizens' festival

format: Speech

Schloss Bellevue, , 13 September 2024

Federal President Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender stand on the stage and welcome guests to the 2024 Bürgerfest

"Exchange is the prerequisite for mutual understanding"

format: Speech

Cairo/Egypt, , 12 September 2024

Federal President Steinmeier gives a speech

Visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt

format: Report

10 September 2024

"A symbol of European solidarity"

format: Speech

Sopron/Hungary, , 19 August 2024

Speech by Federal President Steinmeier on the occasion of 35th anniversary of the Pan-European Picnic

Visit to the Republik of Poland

format: Report

31 July 2024

Lighting of a candle at the Mother Monument in memory of the Warsaw Uprising against the German occupation in 1944

"We still have the opportunity to set out a framework for AI that benefits both human beings and the common good"

format: Speech

Schloss Bellevue, , 10 July 2024

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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.