Germany's ruling coalition has agreed to support the Social Democrat Frank-Walter Steinmeier as Germany's next president.  After months of debate, German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats agreed to back the currrent Steinmeier who is currently Foreign Minister.

Merkel said the decision was "a sensible solution" and a "signal of stability in times of global unrest and instability". Merkel's camp had hoped to promote its own candidate, but chose to back Steinmeier, to avoid a long fight with his Social Democratic party. Following the decision, Steinmeier said that the office of German president would be a huge responsibility.