Polish official hopes for German presidential visit to Poland
PR dla Zagranicy
Victoria Bieniek
20.03.2017 14:14
Krzysztof Szczerski, a top aide to the the Polish president has said he hopes that Poland will be one of the first countries hosting German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
New German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his predecessor Joachim Gauck. Photo: EPA/Filip Singer.
Steinmeier assumed office on Sunday after winning the German presidential election in February.
According to Szczerski, a prompt visit to Poland by the German president will show that Polish-German relations are strategically important to both countries.
Szczerski said he wants the former German foreign minister to remain immersed in global politics after he “was very active in international politics in his previous role”.
Szczerski said that 2016 saw intense bilateral relations and many meetings between Polish President Andrzej Duda and former German President Joachim Gauck, and that Poland wants “that dynamic to be
maintained”.
He added that the the incumbent German foreign minister would be in Warsaw next week and that the subject of a German presidential visit to Poland would be discussed.
Steinmeier will be sworn into office on Wednesday. He was elected last month by an overwhelming majority of the German Federal Assembly, a political institution made up of the federal parliament and representatives from 16 states which convenes for the sole purpose of electing the Head of State. Of 1,253 votes cast, 931 were for Steinmeier.
The social-democrat succeeds President Joachim Gauck, who for health reasons did not stand for re-election. (vb/rg)
Source: PAP