German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told a closed CDU meeting that Germany’s next federal president “must be a woman,” according to party sources cited by G4Media.

“My decision is made — it has to be a woman,” Merz said. He added that he would propose “a centrist female candidate” to the party, without naming anyone, the same sources said.

The largely ceremonial but morally weighty presidency has been held since 2017 by Social Democrat Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The next election is set for 30 January.

Germany’s president is chosen by an assembly of about 1,260 members: lawmakers from the Bundestag and Bundesrat, plus civil-society representatives. The CDU is the largest party in that body.

Together with its Bavarian sister party, the CSU, and the Social Democrats (SPD) — its partners in the governing coalition — the CDU could secure a majority to elect the next head of state.

Women mentioned inside the CDU as possible candidates include Bundestag President Julia Klöckner, Education Minister Karin Prien, former party leader and defence minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, and Ines Claus, who leads the CDU parliamentary group in Hesse.

Source consulted: Chancellor Merz agrees Germany’s next president could be a woman — G4Media.

Image: Friedrich Merz at the European Commission (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0).

Sources consulted: Chancellor Merz agrees Germany’s next president could be a woman — G4Media.