German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has publicly stated his firm decision that the next President of Germany must be a woman. Speaking at a closed-door meeting with local leaders of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Merz emphasized that he intends to propose a female candidate from the political center, though he did not disclose specific names during the gathering.
The upcoming presidential election is set for January 30. The current officeholder is Social Democrat Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who has occupied the largely ceremonial yet morally authoritative role since 2017. Historically, this position has always been held by men, making Merz's stance a significant shift in the country's political trajectory.
The German President is elected by an assembly of approximately 1,260 voters, primarily consisting of members of parliament from both the Bundestag and the Bundesrat, alongside some civil society representatives. The CDU holds the largest number of seats in this assembly. By aligning with its Bavarian sister party, the CSU, and the Social Democrats—both part of Merz's coalition—the bloc commands a majority necessary to secure the election.
Several women have been mentioned within the CDU as potential candidates for the presidency. These include Bundestag President Julia Klöckner, Education Minister Karin Prien, former party chairwoman and Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, and Ines Claus, head of the CDU parliamentary group in Hesse. Meanwhile, the CSU has already put forward Ilse Aigner, the president of the Bavarian regional parliament, as a successor to Steinmeier.
Sources: Le Figaro.