Politics · Germany · 3 hrs ago
Germany plans to elect its first female president in January 2027
Germany is preparing to elect its next federal president, with the vote scheduled for January 30, 2027.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said the president will be a woman, which would make her the first woman to hold the office after 12 men.
Merz has not yet named a candidate, and the conservative CDU and its Bavarian sister party, the CSU, have the right to propose one.
CSU leader Markus Söder has publicly backed Bavarian state parliament president Ilse Aigner, and leading Social Democrats have also supported her.
The party divisions make agreement difficult, while Merz is also seeking support from the Greens for a broad majority.
The Federal Convention will choose the president in January, and its members are already being selected, adding pressure for the parties to settle on a candidate.
Germany is expected to elect its first female president in January 2027, after twelve men have held the office.
The election is scheduled for 30 January, and the new president will succeed Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said the next president will be a woman but has not proposed a candidate.
The CDU and its Bavarian sister party, the CSU, have the right to put forward a candidate, while Merz is seeking broad support.
Several politicians are being discussed, including CSU politician Ilse Aigner, whom CSU leader Markus Söder and many Social Democrats have backed.
- Who
- Germany’s Federal Convention will elect the next federal president; the candidate is to be a woman.
- What
- Germany plans to elect its first female federal president.
- When
- 30 January 2027.
- Where
- Germany.
- Why
- Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s successor is to take office, and Merz has said a woman should hold the position.
CDU leadership
CSU and supporters of Ilse Aigner
Candidate choice
CDU leadership
The CDU has the right to propose a candidate, and Merz has not yet made a proposal.
CSU and supporters of Ilse Aigner
CSU leader Markus Söder has repeatedly put forward Bavarian state parliament president Ilse Aigner, who also has support from leading Social Democrats.
Political considerations
CDU leadership
Some CDU figures warn Merz against making too many concessions to coalition partners.
CSU and supporters of Ilse Aigner
The CSU and SPD support for Aigner puts pressure on Merz to consider her candidacy.
The CDU, CSU and SPD agreed to decide on a candidate after the September state elections.
State elections took place, clarifying the balance of forces in the Federal Convention.
Merz said the next president would be a woman.
The Federal Convention is scheduled to elect the next president.
- Election date
- 30 January 2027
- Outgoing president
- Frank-Walter Steinmeier
- Candidates discussed
- Karin Prien, Julia Klöckner, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, Ines Claus, Monika Grütters and Ilse Aigner
- Federal Convention
- Comprises all Bundestag members and an equal number of members chosen by state parliaments
- Previous officeholders
- Twelve men have held the presidency