US-German relations have returned to normal: Rau [including UN/Iraq]

[Kellanved]

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) - President Johannes Rau said in an interview released Saturday that he sees German-US relations as "normalised," despite disagreements over the war in Iraq, describing cooperation between the two countries as "very, very close."
...
Regarding Iraq, Rau said despite Germans' disapproval of the US-led war to topple Saddam Hussein, the nation could not close its eyes to Iraqis' postwar needs.
"Now its about humanitarian aid and building a stable democracy - everyone should be very interested in that," the president said.
...
"I made up my mind about the question of a second term in office long ago, but I will announce it at the right time," Rau said.
Although Rau enjoys popularity among Germans, there has been discussion across the party spectrum about bringing a woman into the post.

http://www.brunei-online.com/bb/mon/jul28w22.htm

[TheBigGuy]

1. yes, but isnt the Federal President a largely ceremonial role?

I guess this would be an appopriate thing for Rau to say, as "head of state"...but I guess the real proof of the pudding is how Fischer is working with Powell and Rumsfeld...

[Kellanved]

2. Yes, it is largely ceremonial

But Rau wouldn't say something like that without discussing it with the chancellor first. In this matter the President is like a more important foreign minister. Besides: the office is not quite as ceremonial as widely believed (what would be completely)
.
From http://eng.bundespraesident.de/

--snip
From the point of view of protocol, the Federal President as head of state occupies the leading position. He is the constitutional organ which represents the Federal Republic of Germany both at home and abroad. He does so by making the state - its existence, legitimacy, legality and unity - perceptible in all he does and in every public appearance. This highlights his role as a figure of integration and his monitoring function in his capacity as guardian of the law and the constitution. Furthermore the Federal President has fall-back powers which he can use if the parliamentary system of government is in a crisis situation.

..
The classic functions which the Federal President as head of state performs include:

• representing the Federal Republic of Germany at home and abroad (public appearances at state, social and cultural events, speeches, visits to the Länder and communities, state visits abroad, receiving foreign state visitors),
  
  
  
• representing the Federal Republic of Germany in terms of international law (Art. 59 (1) sentence 1 of the Basic Law), concluding treaties with foreign states (Art. 59 (1) sentence 2 of the Basic Law), accrediting (appointing) German diplomatic envoys and receiving (accepting the letter of accreditation of) foreign diplomats (Art. 59 (1) sentence 3 of the Basic Law).
  

His other important tasks include:

• proposing the Federal Chancellor for election (Art. 63 of the Basic Law),
  
• appointing and dismissing the Federal Chancellor (Art. 63 and 67 of the Basic Law) and the Federal Ministers (Art. 64 of the Basic Law), - dissolving the Bundestag (Art. 63 (4) sentence 3, Art. 68 of the Basic Law),
  
• promulgating (signing) and publicizing laws
  (Art. 82 of the Basic Law),
  
• appointing and dismissing federal judges, federal civil servants, commissioned and non-commissioned officers
  (Art. 60 (1) of the Basic Law),
  
• exercising the power to pardon on behalf of the Federation
  (Art. 60 (2) of the Basic Law).
  

--snap

[TheBigGuy]

4. Almost like an elected king.....oh, and about the Lander...

..do they also have equivilant postions, like "Presidents" acting as "head of state" of the Land governments?

Or is that role performed by the "minister-president".

[Kellanved]

5. Minister-presidents (Ministerpräsident; both offices rolled into one)

The also use one-chamber parliaments, unlike the Federation. The Presidents of those Länder-Parliaments("Landtag" / "Senat", depending on the Land) usually have some of the tasks the Federal-President has in the Federation.

[ShaneGR]

3. President Johannes Rau, Er ist nicht einer "leader"

In other words, Schroeder is the one in charge, not that guy. It's a ceremonial position. Kind of like an ambassador but not really.