President of Germany Roman Herzog, Johannes Rau, Christian Wulff, Joachim Gauck and Frank-Walter Steinmeier (as yet) have signed and promulgated all bills during their respective terms. The president represents Germany in the world (Art. 59 Basic Law), undertakes foreign visits and receives foreign dignitaries. They also conclude treaties with foreign nations (which do not come into effect until affirmed by the Bundestag), accredit German diplomats and receive the letters of accreditation of foreign diplomats. According to Article 60 (2) of the German Constitution, the president has the power to pardon. This means the president "has the authority to revoke or commute penal or
President of East Germany With the Constitution of 1968, the last references to the presidency were eliminated. After the Peaceful Revolution, there were plans to reintroduce the office of the President of the Republic by constitutional law from 1990 onward, which did not happen in the course of German reunification. President of East Germany The President of the Republic () was the head of state of East Germany (German Democratic Republic) from 1949 until 1960. The office was created by the Constitution of 1949 (). The President of the Republic was elected by the People's Chamber ("Volkskammer") and the Chamber of States ("Landerkammer"), the