Photo Gallery Berlin's Ambitious Mayor
On his marks: Berlin's mayor, Klaus Wowereit, poses on the starting blocks at the city's famous Olympic stadium. Whether he ever runs in the race for federal office in the future has yet to be decided.
Aging population: Current chairman of the Social Democrats, Franz Muentefering (R) and deputy chair, Andrea Nahles (L), who heads the left wing of the party and with whom Wowereit has aligned himself. The younger Social Democrats will have more opportunities for advancement should the SPD's current coalition with the CDU break down.
Waving, not drowning: Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the Social Democrats' top candidate for the upcoming general elections in September, waves after a speech during the party's June conference. Looking on from the top table are former chancellor, Gerhard Schröder (L) and Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit (3rd L).
The people's choice: Berlin mayor Klaus Wowereit (C) at the recent Christopher Street Day Parade that celebrates gay pride in the capital. Wowereit came out just before the 2001 Berlin state elections. He told surprised supporters, "I am gay, and thats a good thing."
