Germany's problems with its head of state

Two German presidents before Joachim Gauck have resigned their post within the space of two years - a fact that has revived the debate about the need for the highest independent public office. If Gauck disappoints the whole issue will flame up again, writes journalist Axel Reetz in a commentary for the online newspaper Ir: "This clergyman from the GDR headed the Stasi archive authority after reunification. He is independent and his political views are not entirely clear, even if he seems more or less conservative. The opposition nominated him in 2010 precisely because he could also have been Merkel's candidate. The second time round the opposition couldn't suddenly withdraw its support, even though by then he had come under fire from his own backers for some of his statements. The Free Democratic Party basically forced a candidate on Merkel whom she didn't want two years ago, while the opposition couldn't simply drop its own, by now highly controversial candidate. Gauck is not an accommodating person. … But if he doesn't fulfil people's expectations in the country's highest public office the whole question of the need for this office will be raised once more."

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