Merz backs a woman as Germany’s next federal president - Startups and venture capital

Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said he will propose a female candidate from the political center to succeed Frank-Walter Steinmeier, giving his first clear indication of his position in the succession debate.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz has committed to proposing a woman as the next German federal president. Speaking at a conference of CDU district leaders in Berlin, he said he would put forward “a joint candidate” from the political center and was determined that the successor to Frank-Walter Steinmeier should be a woman, according to participants cited by the German Press Agency.

Merz had previously avoided taking a public position on the succession. His announcement now gives the debate a clear direction, although the Union parties have yet to agree on a name.

The CSU is supporting Ilse Aigner, president of the Bavarian state parliament. Her potential candidacy has received backing from members of both the SPD and the Greens. Names mentioned within the CDU include Bundestag President Julia Klöckner, Education Minister Karin Prien, former party leader and defense minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Ines Claus, chair of the CDU parliamentary group in Hesse.

Several men had also been discussed, including Hesse’s Minister-President Boris Rhein, Constitutional Court President Stephan Harbarth and former Constitutional Court President Udo di Fabio. Merz’s preference makes their prospects appear considerably weaker.

The Union and SPD together hold a majority of roughly 50 votes in the Federal Convention, the body that elects the federal president. It consists of the 630 members of the Bundestag and an equal number of representatives from the German states. Merz also wants the Greens involved in the search for a candidate.

A preliminary decision could be made at a meeting of CDU bodies next Monday. Before then, Merz plans to consult the CDU’s state leaders and the CSU, with the aim of reaching a joint Union proposal that can also be coordinated with the SPD, whose support is essential for a majority.

Some CDU district leaders have already expressed support for Aigner. Ingo Flemming of Dresden said he had no objections to her candidacy, while Bastian Ernst, the CDU district leader in Oldenburg-Land, called Aigner suitable for the office in every respect. Christian Carmienke, who leads the party in Lüchow-Dannenberg, also backed her and criticized the delay in taking up the CSU proposal.

Merz had indicated as early as August 2025 that he could imagine a woman becoming Germany’s federal president for the first time. He did not commit himself after that, however. The debate gained momentum after CSU leader Markus Söder proposed Aigner in April and intensified at the CSU party conference held the previous weekend.

The presidential succession was not the only issue discussed at the Berlin conference. District leaders also raised concerns about easing the burden on citizens, involving the party base more closely in decisions and preserving the CDU’s role as a broad-based popular party. Although some participants criticized the party leadership and called for organizational changes, reports did not indicate an open revolt by the grassroots.

Sources: Handelsblatt.