23 May 2024, Berlin: The representatives of the constitutional bodies (l-r), Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Büdenbender, Bundestag President Bärbel Bas (SPD), Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and his wife Britta Ernst, and Manuela Schwesig (SPD), Minister President of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and current President of the Bundesrat, sit in the front row at the ecumenical service to mark 75 years of the Basic Law in St. Mary's Church in Berlin-Mitte. The Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany was promulgated on May 23, 1949 and came into force the following day. The anniversary will be celebrated with a three-day democracy festival from 24 to 26 May 2024 in Berlin's government district. Photo: Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa