who wants a mustache ride <| sep |> The German Presidential election really isn ' t comparable either . Basically , it ' s clear from the start who will win that is the person suggested by the government coalition , though they try to find someone who ' s popular enough to have broad agreement . Then they get together a onetime only special assembly that includes artists , musicians , football coaches and whoever else wants a day in parliament , and elect that person . Some other candidates from the smaller parties run , but there is no competition and no surprise . That works because the position is supposed to be above politics . It ' s a representative function , like the monarch in a constitutional monarchy . Apart from representing the country abroad , any signing of laws or interaction with elections is done according to election results . A President who tried to use the theoretical power to act politically , say by refusing to sign laws his party doesn ' t agree with , would be removed from office immediately by all parties , including his own .