German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reportedly told Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leaders that Germany’s next president should be a woman, shaping early debate over the successor to German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA) reported that Merz made the remarks at a closed-door meeting of CDU local leaders in Berlin on Nov. 2, citing participants. DPA said he planned to propose a “consensus candidate” from the political center and quoted him as saying the next president “must be a woman.” The report did not identify a candidate.
Germany’s president is chosen by the Federal Convention rather than in a direct public vote. The German Bundestag has scheduled the election for Jan. 30, 2027, before Steinmeier’s term ends March 18. State parliaments select a group of delegates equal in number to the Bundestag’s 630 members. The combined 1,260-member body chooses the president by secret ballot.
Merz’s public comments in August placed the emphasis on the person selected. In an Aug. 30, 2026, interview with ARD, he expressed sympathy for a woman taking office but said the successor’s personality mattered more than gender.
Former Chancellor Angela Merkel said she would welcome a woman succeeding Steinmeier; she made the remarks in a MagentaTV interview for “Bestbesetzung.” Deutsche Telekom said the episode, hosted by Johannes B. Kerner, was released Oct. 30.
Deutsche Welle (DW) listed Ilse Aigner, Julia Klöckner, Karin Prien and Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer among women discussed as potential successors in an Oct. 29 overview. They were possibilities, not confirmed nominees. DW also reported that Bavarian Premier Markus Söder had backed Aigner.
ARD’s Tagesschau identified a CDU presidium meeting scheduled for Nov. 9 as a milestone in the discussions. The Federal Convention is set to vote Jan. 30, 2027.
