Merz insists next German president must be a woman

Chancellor sets gender criterion for head of state

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz voiced a requirement regarding the gender composition of the country's highest office. At a closed meeting of regional leaders of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in Berlin, he stressed: «Я визначився: це має бути жінка» (I have made up my mind: it must be a woman). The Chancellor has not yet revealed the specific name of the candidate, but noted that he intends to propose a representative from the centre of the political spectrum.

List of potential candidates

Political circles are discussing several names that could be in contention for the post. Among them are:

• President of the Bundestag Julia Klöckner;
• President of the Bavarian State Parliament Ilse Aigner;
• Minister of Education Karin Prien;
• former CDU leader Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer;
• leader of the CDU parliamentary group in Hesse Ines Klaus.

It is worth noting that the Christian Social Union (CSU) has already expressed support for Ilse Aigner. Her candidacy has also been approved by representatives of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Greens.

Coordination process and election dates

Merz emphasises that the CDU, as the largest force in the Federal Assembly, has the right to nominate a candidate. Following negotiations within the bloc, the Chancellor plans to discuss the candidacy with the leaders of the SPD and the Greens. A preliminary decision may be made on 9 November.

The election of the new Federal President is scheduled for 30 January 2027. The incumbent head of state, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who has held the office since 2017, is not eligible to run for a third term. Throughout the entire history of the Federal Republic of Germany, which dates back to 1949, the presidency has been held exclusively by men.