InfoAnda - Celebrations as Germany turns 60, re-elects president

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Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail Yahoo! Search Search: Sign InNew User? Sign Up News Home - Help Navigation Primary Navigation Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Secondary Navigation Africa Europe Latin America Middle East North America Search Search: Celebrations as Germany turns 60, re-elects president AFP - Sunday, May 24 BERLIN (AFP) - - Huge crowds in Berlin celebrated on Saturday 60 years since Germany emerged from the ruins of World War II to lay the foundations for what became a democratic, peaceful and prosperous nation. ADVERTISEMENT Meanwhile MPs and public figures re-elected the conservative Horst Koehler to the largely ceremonial post of president for a second five-year term, in a boost to Chancellor Angela Merkel ahead of general elections in September. Authorities expected half a million people around the historic Brandenburg Gate for a celebration of all things German from beer to Beethoven, with the country's newly felt sense of national pride on full show. Specifically, the events celebrate the 1949 creation of a democratic nation that still bore the shame of the Nazis' horrors and was struggling to rebuild after total defeat and destruction in 1945. The constitution that was drawn up for this country -- West Germany as it was -- came into effect in May 1949, and has been used a model for other young democracies, primarily in post-Soviet eastern Europe. "The founding fathers of the constitution created a solid order so that free citizens could create a life for themselves in a just society," Koehler told an ecumenical service in Berlin's cathedral. Other events to mark this milestone are planned across Germany in 2009, which also sees the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall before the unification of West and East Germany in 1990, and is an election year. Being patriotic is something of a new phenomenon here, however. For decades deep psychological scars from the war kept such feelings at bay, summed up by West Germany's then-president Gustav Heinemann famously declaring in 1969 that he loved his wife, not his country. But in recent years, Germans have become more comfortable with patriotism, as seen in an orgy of flag-waving national pride when Germany hosted the football World Cup in 2006. Visitors to Saturday's Buergerfest, or people's party, along the Strasse des 17 Juni boulevard could sample rollmops from Bremen or Bavarian white sausages while being entertained by on-stage discussions and music. "I think it is absolutely fine to do this," 68-year-old Gerhard Harald from nearby Flensburg told AFP. "We have the problem of nationalism under control." Not everyone is happy, though, with around 1,100 people expected at a left-wing "anti-nationalist" demo on Saturday evening, Berlin police said. And it is not all roses, with Germany's worst recession since World War II shaking many people's trust in the country's cherished social market economy. The recession, with the accompanying rise in unemployment and huge increase in national debt, is expected to figure highly in campaigning for general elections on September 27 when Merkel is standing for a second term. Convincing voters that she and her conservative bloc can get Germany on the road to recovery is a tall order -- as it is for the other parties. But the victory of Koehler was a minor victory for Merkel as she and her conservatives had backed the 66-year-old former head of the International Monetary Fund. The fact that the vote by 1,223 MPs and public figures was held by secret ballot meant that there was the potential for a surprise victory for Koehler's main challenger, the left-wing academic Gesine Schwan. "We think he is the president that Germany needs in this situation," Merkel said after the vote. Email Story IM Story Printable View Blog This Sign in to recommend this article » 0 users recommend Related Articles: World Israeli troops kill 2 militants in Gaza clashAP - Saturday, May 23 GMAC receives $7.5 billion in new Treasury aidAP - Friday, May 22 Florida's BankUnited fails, will cost FDIC $4.9BAP - Friday, May 22 Ex-soldier gets life in prison for Iraqi slayingsAP - Saturday, May 23 Today in History - May 22AP - Friday, May 22 Enlarge Photo Fireworks illuminate the Reichstag, the building which houses the German lower house of parliament, to mark the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the Federal Republic of Germany in Berlin. Huge crowds in Berlin celebrated on Saturday 60 years since Germany emerged from the ruins of World War II to lay the foundations for what became a democratic, peaceful and prosperous nation. Most Popular – World Viewed Obama signs credit card reforms Smokers duped by light cigarettes: US court Vitamin D boosts brain power in middle-aged men Popular cereal is a drug, US food watchdog says Health chiefs warn against 'sneaky' flu virus View Complete List » Search: Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - Community - Intellectual Property Rights Policy - Help

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