Germany officially the Federal Republic of Germany is a Federal Parliamentary Republic consisting of 16 States collectively referred to as Länder with each State has its own state constitution.Germany is in Western and Central Europe.
Capital - Berlin
Currency - Euro
Population - 82 million(2010estimate)
Official Language -German
Fall of Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall( officially referred to as the'' Anti-Fascist Protection Rampart implying that neighbouring West Germany had not been fully de-Nazified) was a barrier constructed by the East Germany(GDR) starting on Aug 13, 1961, that completely cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin.The barrier included guard towers placed along large concrete walls.
Before the Wall's erection, 3.5 million East Germans circumvented Eatern Bloc Emigration Restrictions and defected from the GDR, many by crossing over the border from East Berlin into West Berlin, from where they could then travel to West Germany and other Western European countries. Between 1961 and 1989, the wall prevented almost all such emigration.
In 1989 after several weeks of civil unrest, the East German government announced on Nov 9,1989 that all East Germany(GDR) citizens could visit West Germany(FRG) and West Berlin.
Crowds of East Germans crossed and climbed onto the wall, joined by West Germans on the other side in a celebratory atmosphere.
Over the next few weeks, a euphoric public and souvenir hunters chipped away parts of the wall.
TheGovt. later used industrial equipment to remove most of the rest. The fall of the Berlin Wall paved the way for German Re-Unification.
German Re-unification - celebrated on Oct 3,1990
German re - unification was the process in 1990 in which the East Germany(GDR) joined the West Germany(FRG).
The start of this process is commonly referred by Germans as '' die Wende '' (The Turning Point).
The end of the unification process is officially referred to as German unity
A reunification treaty between West Germany(FRG) and theEast Germany(GDR) was negotiated in mid-1990, signed on Aug 31,1990 and finally approved by large majorities in the legislative chambers of both countries on Sep 20, 1990.East Germany joined the Federal Republic as the five states of Brandenburg,Mecklenburg -Vorpommem,Saxony,Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia.
To commemorate the day that marks the official unification of the former East and West Germany in 1990, 3 October has since then been the official German national holiday, the Day of German Unity. It replaced the previous national holiday held in West Germany on 17 June commemorating the Uprising of 1953 in East Germany and the national holiday on 7 October in the East Germany(GDR)
Government
The President is the Head of the State ( invested primarily with representative responsibilities and powers)elected by the Bundesversammlung (federal convention), an institution consisting of the members of the Bundestag(Germany's Parliament) and an equal number of state delegates.
The office of President of Germany was first created in 1919, replacing the Emperor as Head of State, with Friedrich Ebert(SPD) as the 1st President(Feb 11,1919 - Feb 28,1925 - Died in Office)
The Federal President is elected by secret ballot, without debate, by the Federal Convention, a body established solely for that purpose. The convention consists of all Bundestag Members as well as an equal number of delegates chosen by the legislatures of the Lander(States).
The German Constitution, requires that Federal Convention be convened and Chaired by the President of Bundestag no later than 30 days before the expiration of the term of office of the president (which is five years).
From 1979 to 2009, all these conventions have been held on 23 May, the date of the foundation of the Federal Republic in 1949. An exception to this was the 2010 election, which had to be held within 30 days of Horst Kohler's sudden resignation(in Office from July 1,2004 - May31,2010) The same will also apply to the 2012 election, which has to be held by March 18, 2012 because of Christian Wulff's resignation(in Office from June 30,2010 - Feb 17,2012)
The second-highest official is the Bundestagspräsident (President of Bundestag) who is elected by theBundestag and responsible for overseeing the daily sessions of the body.
The third-highest official and the Head of the Govt. is the Chancellor, who is appointed by the Bundespräsident after being elected by the Bundestag.
Chancellor of Germany
Angela Dorothea Merkel is the current Chancellor of Germany and the 1st female chancellor and has been serving the 2nd term following the 2009 Federal Election
She is the Chairwoman of the Christian Democratic Union(CDU)
German President Christian Wulff Resigns in Corruption Scandal
The German president, Christian Wulff(had only served as the head of state since 2010) has resigned on Friday Feb 17,2012 (quit after two months of allegations he received favors such as a favorable loan and hotel stays from friends when he was governor of Lower Saxony state.)
Giving his resignation speech from his official Berlin residence, Bellvue palace, he insisted he had "always acted correctly according to the law" but conceded that he had made "mistakes"
New German President Joachim Gauck - Sunday March 18,2012
German lawmakers has elected former East German pro-democracy activist Joachim Gauck as new president. Parliament speaker Norbert Lammert said Sunday that Joachim Gauck, who enjoyed the backing of most major parties, received 991 of the 1,232 ballots cast.Joachim Gauck was elected by a special parliamentary assembly, consisting mostly of lawmakers from Parliament and the state legislatures.
New German President Joachim Gauck - Sunday March 18,2012
German lawmakers has elected former East German pro-democracy activist Joachim Gauck as new president. Parliament speaker Norbert Lammert said Sunday that Joachim Gauck, who enjoyed the backing of most major parties, received 991 of the 1,232 ballots cast.Joachim Gauck was elected by a special parliamentary assembly, consisting mostly of lawmakers from Parliament and the state legislatures.
Joachim Gauck(72)a former pastor and East German anti-communist activist and the main opposition candidate in 2010, when he lost to Christian Wulff.
Joachim Gauck's main opponent was Beate Klarsfeld(73)nominated by the anti- capitalist Left party
The state had been ruled
for the past ten years by the CDU in a coalition with the liberal Free
Democratic Party (FDP), similar to Merkel's coalition government in
Berlin.
Joachim Gauck Sworn in as German President
Joachim Gauck(72), civil-rights campaigner from the former East Germany, was on Friday March 23,2012 sworn in as German president, replacing Christian Wulff who was forced to step down over corruption allegations last month.
Angela Merkel re-elected CDU leader - Tuesday Dec 4,2012
Angela Merkel re-elected as Christian Democratic Union ( CDU ) party leader for seventh time on Tuesday Dec 4,2012 as she kicked off her bid for a third term, saying only she could steer Germany through turbulence at home and abroad.
Angela Merkel(58) who has led Germany as chancellor since 2005, won record backing among members of her conservative party in her re-election.(won the support of 97.9 percent of party delegates at the party congress in Hanover)
CDU loses Lower Saxony polls -Sunday Jan 20,2013
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has suffered a setback as her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) was voted out of power in the state polls in Lower Saxony where the opposition alliance of SPD and Green Party has emerged victorious, months ahead of the general election in which she is seeking a third four-year term.(National Parliamentary polls in Germany are scheduled to take place in September)
The CDU lost 6.5 % of votes compared to the last election in 2008 and polled around 36 %.The SPD with its leading candidate, Mayor of Hannover Stephan Weil, received 32.6 per cent votes, 2.6 per cent more than the last election.
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