Heide Simonis

Heide Simonis (born July 4 1943) is a German politician. She has been Minister President of Schleswig-Holstein since 1993. She is a member of the SPD.

On March 17 2005 Simonis failed to be reelected as Minister President of Schleswig-Holstein in 4 consecutive ballots by the Landtag (parliament) of Schleswig-Holstein. In the 1st ballot she received 34 votes and Mr Peter Harry Carstensen (CDU) received 33 while 2 deputies cast empty votes. Neither Simonis nor Carstensen got the absolute majority (35 votes). In the 2nd and 3rd ballot the candidates received 34 votes each. Obviously one deputy of the alliance of SPD, Grüne (Greens) and SSW abstained. An unprecedented 4th ballot brought the same result. Simonis is now likely to step down as Minister President of Schleswig-Holstein.