Merkel has struggled to find a replacement for Germany's 11th post-war President, the popular Joachim Gauck, who announced he would not stand for another term. He had been nominated, February 2012, by parties from across the political spectrum, Merkel's CDU, her Bavarian sister party, the CSU and the opposition SPD as well as the Alliance '90/The Greens.
Having learned of his intentions in June, Merkel has struggled to find someone with the requisite stature from her own Christian Democratic Union to replace him, as she prepares to launch her bid for a fourth term at next year's federal elections.
Steinmeier was the obvious choice — being Germany's most popular "old guard" politician — but he hails from the Social Democratic Party (SPD), which is in coalition with Merkel's Union alliance of her SDP and its sister party, the Bavarian-based Christian Social Union (CSU).
She has come under enormous pressure in recent weeks — especially by the SPD's party chief and her vice-chancellor Sigmar Gabriel — to propose Steinmeier, who is seen as a strong character to fill the largely figurehead position. He is not appointed by Merkel, but she proposes him to a federal convention of lawmakers who make the appointment.
'Preacher of Hate'
Merkel, however, now faces the difficulty of replacing him as one of her most senior cabinet members. On the one hand, Steinmeier has been highly critical of US President-elect Donald Trump — branding him a "preacher of hate."
One the other hand, Steinmeier has been open for warmer relations with Moscow, describing western military exercises in eastern Europe as "saber-rattling" against Russia. In spite of criticism from Washington, Steinmeier has promoted a balance between economic sanctions on Russia over Ukraine and the importance of maintaining an open door with Moscow.
He called for a greater role for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in brokering talks to defuse conflicts in Ukraine and was the principal architect of the "Normandy talks" to negotiate a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine.
Political talks in #Ankara: FM #Steinmeier meets with #Turkey's Prime Minister #Yildirim. @TC_Basbakan pic.twitter.com/bThuhgQYcg
— GermanForeignOffice (@GermanyDiplo) 15 November 2016
Steinmeier has also played a crucial role in keeping diplomatic relations between the EU and Turkey open, in the face of growing opposition to the EU-Turkey migrant deal brokered by Merkel in an attempt to stem the flow of refugees into Europe.
Although Merkel has finally accepted the popular Steinmeier into the largely ceremonial position as head of state, she now needs to shore-up her own political position ahead of her bid for the presidency next year.
Finding a heavyweight such as Steinmeier to cope with the fallout from Trump's election and the continuing EU-Russia standoff will be no easy task for her — especially when she struggled to find a suitable ally from within to take on the mantle for president.
