Merz intends to nominate a woman as a candidate for president of Germany — for the first time in the country's history

Merz's decision at a closed-door CDU meeting

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz intends to propose to his party, the Christian Democratic Union, that it nominate a woman — a representative of the centrist political forces — as the joint candidate for the post of federal president. This was reported by DW, citing the dpa and AFP agencies: on November 2, a closed meeting of the heads of the CDU's regional branches took place in Berlin, where participants spoke about the chancellor's plans.

What is known about the candidate

“I have come to a firm decision that it must be a woman,” the agencies quoted Merz as saying at the meeting. The chancellor did not name a specific candidate at the meeting; he is expected to present the candidate before the CDU presidium meeting on November 9.

Support in the coalition and among possible candidates

The junior partner in the governing coalition — the Social Democratic Party of Germany — reacted positively to the chancellor's decision. Dirk Wiese, the SPD parliamentary faction's manager in the Bundestag, told the Rheinische Post in an interview that he looks forward to Merz's proposal with interest and has for several months been advocating that a woman should occupy the highest state post. “I am glad that Friedrich Merz now also recognizes this necessity,” the politician said.

Context: for the first time in 77 years

Earlier, former Chancellor Angela Merkel also spoke out in favor of the current president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, being succeeded by a woman. “The Federal Republic of Germany is 77 years old, but a woman has never been federal president,” she noted. The media name four female politicians among the possible candidates; in particular, the leader of the Christian Social Union, Markus Söder, has for several months been backing Ilse Aigner, the president of the Bavarian Landtag.