President of Besmenia
| President of Federal Republic of Besmenia | |
|---|---|
| Bundespräsident der Bundesrepublik Besmenien | |
 Logo of the President | |
 Standard of the President | |
| Type | Head of State |
| Residence | Traisenbach Castle, Laitstadt |
| Nominator | Political partys or self-nomination |
| Appointer | Direct popular vote |
| Term length | 6 years, renewable once |
| Formation | 2 July 1920 |
| Deputy | President of the Federal Chamber |
| Salary | BS 300,000 annually |
The president of Besmenia, officially the Federal President of the Federal Republic of Besmenia (Besmenian: Bundespräsident der Bundesrepublik Besmenien), is the head of state of Besmenia and commander-in-chief of the Besmenian Federal Army. According to the Basic Law, the president is the highest representative of the state. In practice the president is mostly a ceremonial and symbolic figurehead.
The Federal President is elected by the people every six years and may only be re-elected once and remain in office continuously for a total of twelve years.
History
Before 1920
The government of the short-lived Confederation of East Besmenian States, consisting of the BDP, SDU and BKP, as well as the provisional Federal Assembly, agreed when the KBS was founded in 1918 that the president of the provisional federal assembly would also serve as head of state. Between 1918 and 1920 Gustav Scharping was President of the Federal Assembly and was also the head of state of the Confederation.
After the end of the Besmenian civil war, the BDP and BKP strove for a head of state with a special position of power. The SDU sought to retain the President of Parliament as head of state. As a compromise, after the founding of the East Besmenian Federal Republic on July 2, 1920, the president was created as a separate state body, but his powers were only very weak, which meant he had mostly ceremonial tasks.
1920-1941
Since 1941
Requirements
To become a presidential candidate, three prerequisites must be met:
- The presidential candidate must be at least 36 years old.
- The presidential candidate must be born in Besmenia.
- The presidential candidate must have lived in Besmenia continuously for at least 10 years.
A presidential candidate also needs 5,500 signatures to participate in the presidential election. While in office the president cannot belong to an elected body or hold any other political position.
Election
The term of office is about 6 years. A one-time re-election is possible. Until 1935 the president was elected by the Federal Assembly, which is composed of the members of the Federal Chamber and the Federal Senate. Hugo Dautzenberg was the first president to be directly elected by the people in the 1941 East Besmenian presidential election.
Until 1939 there was no limitation in office, which means that any candidate could serve as president for more than 12 years. In 1939, under Prime Minister Heinz Dimmler and his government cabinet, multiple re-elections were abolished and limited to one.
Past presidential elections
| Election | Date | Ballots | Winner | Electoral votes (percentage) |
Runner-up | Electoral votes (percentage) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 10 October 1920 | 1 | Hermann Köster (Independent) | 70,5% | Peter Gruber (SDU) | 28,5% |
| 1926 | 29 August 1926 | 1 | Hermann Köster (Independent) | 69,3% | Bernhard Bruning (KPB) | 21% |
| 1929 | 5 May 1929 | 1 | Siegfried Saalmann (BKP) | 51,8% | Herbert Frenkel (SDU) | 48,2% |
| 1935 | 5 May 1935 | 2 | Heinrich Friedensberg (BVP) | 60,5% | Gustav Weinfink (SDU) | 39,5% |
| 1941 | 4 May 1941 18 May 1941 |
2 | Hugo Dautzenberg (SDU) | 67,9% | Siegfried Radler (Independent) | 32,1% |
| 1947 | 4 May 1947 | 1 | Hugo Dautzenberg (SDU) | 50,9% | Gustav Böcker (BVP) | 39,4% |
| 1951 | 29 April 1951 | 1 | Wilhelm Ganswindt (BVP) | 60,2% | Jürgen Waldmacher (FBBP) | 29% |
| 1957 | 28 April 1957 | 1 | Wilhelm Ganswindt (BVP) | 58% | Oskar Stein (SDU) | 30,3% |
| 1963 | 28 April 1963 12 May 1963 |
2 | Thomas Albrecht (SDU) | 54,7% | Franz Kramwald (BVP) | 45,3% |
| 1969 | 27 April 1969 | 1 | Thomas Albrecht (SDU) | 60,2% | Alois Huthmacher (BRP) | 32,1% |
| 1973 | 25 March 1973 | 1 | Erwin Pohl (Independent) | 56,3% | Kurt Weimer (BVP) | 31% |
| 1979 | 25 February 1979 | 1 | Erwin Pohl (Independent) | 74,8% | Werner Kaltmann (BVP) | 15,2% |
| 1985 | 24 February 1985 10 March 1985 |
2 | Otto Schulz (FBBP) | 60,5% | Manfred von Henning (BRP) | 39,5% |
| 1991 | 24 February 1991 | 1 | Otto Schulz (FBBP) | 63,4% | Josef Müller (Independent) | 33,8% |
| 1997 | 23 February 1997 9 March 1997 |
2 | Gerhard Mahler (SDU) | 52,1% | Ursula Kummstein (FBBP) | 47,9% |
| 2003 | 23 February 2003 | 1 | Hans Kiesinger (BVP) | 53,8% | Peter Treudler (NBP) | 25,1% |
| 2009 | 22 February 2009 | 1 | Hans Kiesinger (BVP) | 56,3% | Doris Klammer-Brunt (SDU) | 31,8% |
| 2015 | 22 February 2015 | 1 | Sebastian Bergmann (GPB) | 57,7% | Regina Vogel (FBBP) | 21,5% |
| 2021 | 28 February 2021 14 March 2021 |
2 | Vincent von Schilling (BVP) | 52,9 % | Sebastian Bergmann (GPB) | 46,9 % |
| 2024 | 10 March 2024 24 March 2024 |
2 | Erika Badt-Springer (FBBP) | 51,8% | Jens Schechter (NBP) | 48,2% |
Succession
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The Besmenian Basic Law makes no provisions for an office of vice president. The official deputy to the Besmenian president is the President of the Federal Chamber. If the Federal President resigns or dies during his term of office, the President of the Federal Chamber assumes the duties of the Besmenian president on an acting basis until a new Federal President is sworn in. During this time, a new Federal President must be elected.
Oath
When taking office, the president must recite the following oath:
"I, (name) swear that I will devote my energies to the welfare of the Besmenian people, uphold the Basic Law and the laws of the Federal Republic of Besmenia, conscientiously fulfill my duties and do justice to everyone."
Tasks and powers
In his function as head of state, the Federal President has, among other things, the following tasks and powers:
- He represents Besmenia under international law.
- He is the commander-in-chief of the Besmenian Federal Army.
- He certifies diplomatic representatives.
- He has the right of pardon at the federal level
- He executes federal laws with his signature and has them promulgated by publication in the Federal Law Gazette.
- He appoints and dismisses the Prime Minister.
- He appoints and dismisses federal ministers at the suggestion of the Prime Minister.
- He appoints and dismisses federal judges, federal officials, officers and non-commissioned officers, except as otherwise provided by orders and orders.
- After a failed vote of confidence, he has the decision to dissolve the Federal Chamber.
- He announces that the state of defense has been established and has occurred, and he makes declarations under international law when an attack occurs
- He convenes the Federal Chamber
- He initiates acts of state for important reasons and arranges state symbols.
- He approves the rules of procedure of the federal government.
Official residences
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Since the creation of the office, the president has had his official residence in Traisenbach Castle in Laitstadt. The castle serves as a place of work and residence for the president. The Presidential Chancellery, which supports the president in his duties, is also based in Traisenbach Castle.
The Schallenberg Hunting Lodge, which is located in the southwest of Metakumburg, has been the official country residence of the Besmenian president since 1955. The Schallenberg Hunting Lodge was privately owned by various noble families for centuries, most recently by the House of Heraldstein. After the founding of the Federal Republic of East Besmenia in 1920, the hunting lodge became the property of the federal government. A museum dedicated to the Besmenian Civil War was set up in the official rooms. The remaining rooms were rented out to summer guests. Since 1955 it has served as a country residence for each of the incumbent Besmenian presidents.
Spouse of the President
The wives of the Federal Presidents enjoy a special social reputation even without a formal office. State ceremonies often provide for the president to appear with his wife on special occasions. Political neutrality and restraint are expected from them. The majority of the wives of the Federal Presidents did not pursue a profession at the time of their election or afterwards.
Travel and transportation
List of Besmenian presidents
| Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Term of office | Tenure (Years and days) |
Party | Election | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
|
Hermann Köster (1858–1929) |
10 October 1920 |
9 March 1929 † |
8 years, 150 days | Independent | 1920 1926 |
| - | 
|
Wolfgang Stück (1876–1957) Acting |
9 March 1929 |
10 June 1929 |
93 days | Besmenian People's Party | - |
| 2 | 
|
Hans Saalmann (1873–1960) |
10 June 1929 |
10 June 1935 |
6 years, 0 days | Besmenian Conservative Party | 1929 |
| 3 | 
|
Heinrich Friedensberg (1878–1976) |
10 June 1935 |
10 June 1941 |
6 years, 0 days | Besmenian People's Party | 1935 |
| 4 | 
|
Hugo Dautzenberg (1890–1967) |
10 June 1941 |
1 March 1951 |
9 years, 264 days | Social Democratic Union | 1941 1947 |
| - | 
|
Bruno Wagner (1888–1974) Acting |
1 March 1951 |
1 June 1951 |
92 days | Liberal Citizen's Party of Besmenia | - |
| 5 | 
|
Wilhelm Ganswindt (1896–1971) |
1 June 1951 |
1 June 1963 |
12 years, 0 days | Besmenian People's Party | 1951 1957 |
| 6 | 
|
Thomas Albrecht (1892–1973) |
1 June 1963 |
17 January 1973 † |
9 years, 230 days | Social Democratic Union | 1963 1969 |
| - | 
|
Franz Missmahl (1922–2011) Acting |
17 January 1973 |
5 April 1973 |
78 days | Besmenian People's Party | - |
| 7 | 
|
Erwin Pohl (1912–1992) |
5 April 1973 |
5 April 1985 |
12 years, 0 days | Independent | 1973 1979 |
| 8 | 
|
Otto Schulz (1932-2022) |
5 April 1985 |
5 April 1997 |
12 years, 0 days | Free Besmenian Citizen's Party | 1985 1991 |
| 9 | 
|
Gerhard Mahler (1933-2013) |
5 April 1997 |
5 April 2003 |
6 years, 0 days | Social Democratic Union | 1997 |
| 10 | .jpg)
|
Hans Kiesinger (1945-) |
5 April 2003 |
5 April 2015 |
12 years, 0 days | Besmenian People's Party | 2003 2009 |
| 11 | 
|
Sebastian Bergmann (1949-) |
5 April 2015 |
5 April 2021 |
6 years, 0 days | Green Party of Besmenia | 2015 |
| 12 | 
|
Vincent von Schilling (1972-) |
5 April 2021 |
11 January 2024 |
2 years, 281 days | Besmenian People's Party | 2021 |
| - |
|
Barbara Schröder (1966) Acting |
11 January 2024 |
1 April 2024 |
81 days | Besmenian People's Party | - |
| 13 | .jpg)
|
Erika Badt-Springer (1964-) |
1 April 2024 |
Incumbent | 263 days | Free Besmenian Citizen's Party | 2024 |
Living former presidents of Besmenia
As of July 2022, there are 2 living former presidents:
Hans Kiesinger (age 79)
(2003–2015)
Sebastian Bergmann (age 75)
(2015-2021)
Vincent von Schilling (age 52)
(2021–2024)
Trivia
- No former Besmenian president was alive between 1976-1985 and 1992-1997.
- Otto Schulz was the only living Besmenian president twice, first from 1997 to 2003 and then again from 2013 to 2015.
- The oldest Besmenian president when he took office was Thomas Albrecht at 70, the youngest was Vincent von Schilling at 49.