By DPA,
Berlin : Christian Wulff, of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU), was sworn into office Friday as Germany’s 10th president.
The former Lower Saxony state premier was elected to the post Wednesday, after his predecessor Horst Koehler unexpectedly resigned a month earlier.
In his inaugural address, Wulff stressed the need to “build bridges” between different parts of society and better integrate foreigners living in Germany.
“Our diversity is sometimes strenuous, but it is ultimately a source of strength and ideas and a possibility to see the world through different eyes and perspectives,” Wulff told the upper and lower houses of parliament.
Parliamentary president Norbert Lammert lauded former president Koehler, and said, “He took the people, their worries and needs seriously, and they thank him with lasting affection.”
Koehler resigned May 31, blaming a lack of respect for his office after he was criticised over remarks suggesting that Germany’s military presence in Afghanistan was in part linked to economic interests.
The former president had tears in his eyes as Lammert praised his perseverance in addressing tough questions during his six years in office.
“Koehler did not make it easy for himself, or at times for the so-called political class,” Lammert said.
Aged 51, Wulff is Germany’s youngest ever president.
The candidate of Merkel’s government coalition was elected by a specially convened Federal Assembly, after it took three rounds of voting for the chancellor to rally enough support amongst her allies.
In a survey released Friday, 72 percent of those asked said that Wulff would be a good president, despite the fact that earlier polls had indicated that most Germans favoured his opponent, former East German pastor and anti-communist Joachim Gauck.
During the afternoon Wulff and his wife, Bettina, will be officially welcomed with military honours at the presidential palace, Schloss Bellevue. In the evening they are to host up to 5,000 guests for the president’s annual summer party.