Gesine Schwan ( R ) , President of the Viadrina European University in Frankfurt Oder , and chairman of the Social Democrats ( SPD ) Kurt Beck ( L ) speak at a press conference on the nomination of Schwan as SPD contestant for the office of the German President in Berlin , Germany , 26 May 2008 . The SPD party board officially nominated 65 - year - old Schwan to be the contestant against incumbent German President Horst Koehler when the Federal Assembly elects the German President on 23 May 2009 . EPA / KLAUS - DIETMAR GABBERT < 저작권자 ⓒ 2007 연 합 뉴 스 . 무단 전재 - 재 배포 금지 . >< 연합뉴스 긴급 속보 를 SMS 로 ! SKT 사용 자 는 무료 체험 ! >