BERLIN, Feb. 27 (Xinhuanet) -- Former German President Johannes Rau died of heart disease on Friday morning at the age of 75, the German TV network reported.

Rau waves to the media after his arrival in Madrid in this May 21, 2004 file photo. (Reuters/File)

    Rau, who served as the president of Germany from July 1, 1999 until June 30, 2004, had been in serious conditions after two operations.

    Rau was a member of the All-German People's Party, which was known for proposing German reunification, from 1952 until it was disbanded in 1957.

    In 1958, Rau was elected for the first time as member of the Landtag (state parliament) of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). In 1977, Rau became Chairman of the North Rhine-Westphalia SPD, and later served as the minister president of the state until 1998.

    In 1986, he tried to become chancellor of Germany for the SPD, but did not win the elections against Helmut Kohl's Christian Democrats (CDU).

    In 1998, Rau stepped down from his positions as SPD Chairman and state minister president. In May 1999, he was elected federal president by the Federal Assembly of Germany to succeed Roman Herzog.

    On July 1, 2004 he was succeeded by current German President Horst Koehler.

    Rau's maxim is "to reconcile, not divide."

    He was married to Christina, nee Delius, a political scientist, since 9 August 1982. The couple had three children. After leaving office, Rau lived with his family in Berlin. Enditem