Wiesbaden (dpa/lhe) - The baby Jesus with Joseph and Maria, ox and donkey and two sheep next to the stable: This picture is intended to decorate the Christmas cards of Hesse's Prime Minister Boris Rhein (CDU). It was painted by seven-year-old Richard from Usingen, as the State Chancellery in Wiesbaden announced on Friday. The boy thus took first place in the painting competition that the head of government had called for the design of his traditional Christmas post. All elementary school children from Hesse were able to take part, and almost 300 suggestions were received.

"The decision was really difficult for me," said Rhein according to the announcement at the reception of the first three winners in Wiesbaden. Nine-year-old Amelie from Taunusstein and eight-year-old Jakob from Frankfurt each received a prize - they had painted a winter landscape and a view of a living room decorated for Christmas. The Christmas card with the crib motif is to be sent to people from politics, business, church and culture in the coming weeks.