Germany's figurehead president now best hope of unlocking political crisisBERLIN (Reuters) - Frank-Walter Steinmeier was hardly Chancellor Angela Merkel s first choice for the largely ceremonial job of German president, but the lifelong Social Democrat may be her best hope of holding onto power amid an unprecedented political crisis. Steinmeier, 61, a two-time foreign minister, met on Tuesday with political leaders from the Greens and pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) after Merkel s bid to forge a three-way coalition with those parties collapsed. On Wednesday, he will meet with Horst Seehofer, head of the Bavarian sister party of Merkel s conservatives. On Thursday, he will meet Martin Schulz, head of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the second largest in the Bundestag lower house of parliament, to urge him to reconsider his party s rejection of another  grand coalition  with Merkel s conservatives for the good of the country. Some 30 of the SPD s 153 parliamentary members questioned the rejection of such a coalition this week, the Bild newspaper reported on Wednesday. It said Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel also favored resuming the coalition that has ruled for the past four years. Merkel favors new elections over a minority government, but Steinmeier is pressing political leaders to avoid a new poll that experts say would further strengthen the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) after it moved into parliament with nearly 13 percent of the vote on Sept. 24.  The German president, who is now as powerful as seldom seen in German constitutional history, holds the reins,  the Rheinische Post newspaper wrote on Tuesday. This is the first time a German president has had to get actively involved in trying to forge a new coalition government. The architects of the German constitution devised a complicated process to prevent the frequent elections that weakened the Weimar Republic in the 1920s and facilitated the rise of Adolf Hitler. But new elections are likely around April if Steinmeier cannot bring Merkel s conservatives, the Greens and FDP back to the negotiating table, or persuade his former SPD colleagues to return to government. The SPD wants a spell in opposition to rebuild after its worst election result since the 1930s. Steinmeier, following the tradition of all previous German presidents, gave up his party membership upon taking office. But he could wield some influence with top SPD players after years in leadership roles. His first months as president were lackluster, with some commentators skeptical that the veteran political operator could emulate the success of his predecessor Joachim Gauck, a former East German pastor, in serving as Germany s moral compass. But last month Steinmeier delivered a powerful address on the anniversary of German reunification and then went to Russia to try to repair strained ties with President Vladimir Putin - the first German head of state to visit Moscow since 2010. A carpenter s son from the west German state of North-Rhine Westphalia, Steinmeier is a long-time confidante of former chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. Steinmeier failed to win election as chancellor in 2009, but later won plaudits from the German public for donating a kidney to his seriously ill wife. He has long experience of working with Merkel after serving as foreign minister in the first  grand coalition  between the SPD and conservatives in 2005-09 and then resuming that role in 2013-17, when the two parties allied again. He and Merkel worked closely together on the Minsk peace agreement aimed at ending fighting in eastern Ukraine - a complex deal that required hours of negotiations with Putin and Ukrainian leaders.  I thought Minsk was his biggest accomplishment, but it may pale in comparison with the effort involved in building a functioning government in his own country,  said Olaf Boehnke of the Rasmussen Global consultancy.  Merkel and Steinmeier actually have a good working relationship. And now he s in the driver s seat,  Boehnke said.   worldnews
germany figurehead president best hope unlocking political crisisberlin reuters steinmeier hardly chancellor angela merkel first choice largely ceremonial job german president lifelong social democrat may best hope holding onto power amid unprecedented political crisis steinmeier foreign minister met tuesday political leaders greens free democrats dp merkel bid forge coalition parties collapsed on wednesday meet host seehofer head ovarian sister party merkel conservatives on thursday meet martin chul head social democratic party sdp second largest bundestag lower house parliament urge reconsider party rejection another grand coalition merkel conservatives good country some spd parliamentary members questioned rejection coalition week bild newspaper reported wednesday it said foreign minister sigma gabriel also favored resuming coalition ruled past four years merkel favors new elections minority government steinmeier pressing political leaders avoid new poll experts say would strengthen alternative germany afd moved parliament nearly percent vote the german president powerful seldom seen german constitutional history holds reins rheinische post newspaper wrote tuesday this first time german president get actively involved trying forge new coalition government the architects german constitution devised complicated process prevent frequent elections weakened wear republic facilitated rise adult hitler but new elections likely around april steinmeier bring merkel conservatives greens dp back negotiating table persuade former spd colleagues return government the spd wants spell opposition rebuild worst election result since steinmeier following tradition previous german presidents gave party membership upon taking office but could wield influence top spd players years leadership roles his first months president lackluster commentators skeptical veteran political operator could emulate success predecessor joachim back former east german pastor serving germany moral compass but last month steinmeier delivered powerful address anniversary german reunification went russia try repair strained ties president vladimir putin first german head state visit moscow since a carpenter son west german state westphalia steinmeier confidant former chancellor gerard schroeder steinmeier failed win election chancellor later audits german public donating kidney seriously ill wife he long experience working merkel serving foreign minister first grand coalition spd conservatives resuming role two parties allied he merkel worked closely together minsk peace agreement aimed ending fighting eastern ukraine complex deal required hours negotiations putin ukrainian leaders i thought minsk biggest accomplishment may pale comparison effort involved building functioning government country said ola boehnke rasmussen global consultancy merkel steinmeier actually good working relationship and driver seat boehnke said worldnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Germany's figurehead president now best hope of unlocking political crisisBERLIN (Reuters) - Frank-Walter Steinmeier was hardly Chancellor Angela Merkel s first choice for the largely ceremonial job of German president, but the lifelong Social Democrat may be her best hope of holding onto power amid an unprecedented political crisis. Steinmeier, 61, a two-time foreign minister, met on Tuesday with political leaders from the Greens and pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) after Merkel s bid to forge a three-way coalition with those parties collapsed. On Wednesday, he will meet with Horst Seehofer, head of the Bavarian sister party of Merkel s conservatives. On Thursday, he will meet Martin Schulz, head of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the second largest in the Bundestag lower house of parliament, to urge him to reconsider his party s rejection of another  grand coalition  with Merkel s conservatives for the good of the country. Some 30 of the SPD s 153 parliamentary members questioned the rejection of such a coalition this week, the Bild newspaper reported on Wednesday. It said Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel also favored resuming the coalition that has ruled for the past four years. Merkel favors new elections over a minority government, but Steinmeier is pressing political leaders to avoid a new poll that experts say would further strengthen the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) after it moved into parliament with nearly 13 percent of the vote on Sept. 24.  The German president, who is now as powerful as seldom seen in German constitutional history, holds the reins,  the Rheinische Post newspaper wrote on Tuesday. This is the first time a German president has had to get actively involved in trying to forge a new coalition government. The architects of the German constitution devised a complicated process to prevent the frequent elections that weakened the Weimar Republic in the 1920s and facilitated the rise of Adolf Hitler. But new elections are likely around April if Steinmeier cannot bring Merkel s conservatives, the Greens and FDP back to the negotiating table, or persuade his former SPD colleagues to return to government. The SPD wants a spell in opposition to rebuild after its worst election result since the 1930s. Steinmeier, following the tradition of all previous German presidents, gave up his party membership upon taking office. But he could wield some influence with top SPD players after years in leadership roles. His first months as president were lackluster, with some commentators skeptical that the veteran political operator could emulate the success of his predecessor Joachim Gauck, a former East German pastor, in serving as Germany s moral compass. But last month Steinmeier delivered a powerful address on the anniversary of German reunification and then went to Russia to try to repair strained ties with President Vladimir Putin - the first German head of state to visit Moscow since 2010. A carpenter s son from the west German state of North-Rhine Westphalia, Steinmeier is a long-time confidante of former chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. Steinmeier failed to win election as chancellor in 2009, but later won plaudits from the German public for donating a kidney to his seriously ill wife. He has long experience of working with Merkel after serving as foreign minister in the first  grand coalition  between the SPD and conservatives in 2005-09 and then resuming that role in 2013-17, when the two parties allied again. He and Merkel worked closely together on the Minsk peace agreement aimed at ending fighting in eastern Ukraine - a complex deal that required hours of negotiations with Putin and Ukrainian leaders.  I thought Minsk was his biggest accomplishment, but it may pale in comparison with the effort involved in building a functioning government in his own country,  said Olaf Boehnke of the Rasmussen Global consultancy.  Merkel and Steinmeier actually have a good working relationship. And now he s in the driver s seat,  Boehnke said.   worldnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: germany figurehead president best hope unlocking political crisisberlin reuters steinmeier hardly chancellor angela merkel first choice largely ceremonial job german president lifelong social democrat may best hope holding onto power amid unprecedented political crisis steinmeier foreign minister met tuesday political leaders greens free democrats dp merkel bid forge coalition parties collapsed on wednesday meet host seehofer head ovarian sister party merkel conservatives on thursday meet martin chul head social democratic party sdp second largest bundestag lower house parliament urge reconsider party rejection another grand coalition merkel conservatives good country some spd parliamentary members questioned rejection coalition week bild newspaper reported wednesday it said foreign minister sigma gabriel also favored resuming coalition ruled past four years merkel favors new elections minority government steinmeier pressing political leaders avoid new poll experts say would strengthen alternative germany afd moved parliament nearly percent vote the german president powerful seldom seen german constitutional history holds reins rheinische post newspaper wrote tuesday this first time german president get actively involved trying forge new coalition government the architects german constitution devised complicated process prevent frequent elections weakened wear republic facilitated rise adult hitler but new elections likely around april steinmeier bring merkel conservatives greens dp back negotiating table persuade former spd colleagues return government the spd wants spell opposition rebuild worst election result since steinmeier following tradition previous german presidents gave party membership upon taking office but could wield influence top spd players years leadership roles his first months president lackluster commentators skeptical veteran political operator could emulate success predecessor joachim back former east german pastor serving germany moral compass but last month steinmeier delivered powerful address anniversary german reunification went russia try repair strained ties president vladimir putin first german head state visit moscow since a carpenter son west german state westphalia steinmeier confidant former chancellor gerard schroeder steinmeier failed win election chancellor later audits german public donating kidney seriously ill wife he long experience working merkel serving foreign minister first grand coalition spd conservatives resuming role two parties allied he merkel worked closely together minsk peace agreement aimed ending fighting eastern ukraine complex deal required hours negotiations putin ukrainian leaders i thought minsk biggest accomplishment may pale comparison effort involved building functioning government country said ola boehnke rasmussen global consultancy merkel steinmeier actually good working relationship and driver seat boehnke said worldnews