head of state of Germany
Angela Merkel: Former Chancellor Should Help Elect the Federal President: A new federal president is set to be elected in January. Angela Merkel will also have a ...
stern.de/politik/deutschland/angela-merkel--ex-kanzlerin-soll-bundespraesidenten-mitwaehlen-38489164.html
Office of the Federal President: Merz makes his decision: Steinmeier's successor should be a woman
n-tv.de/politik/Merz-legt-sich-fest-Steinmeiers-Nachfolge-soll-eine-Frau-antreten-id31486775.html
Key FactsMerz plans to propose a woman to succeed Steinmeier
21 hours ago · Reading time: ~30 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: rp-online.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: rp-online.de
- In the Federal Republic’s 77-year history, no woman has served as president; all 12 previous heads of state were men.
- The CSU wants to nominate Ilse Aigner, president of Bavaria’s state parliament; some members of the SPD and Greens also support her.
- Merz insists that the CDU, the Federal Convention’s strongest force, holds nomination rights; the body decides on January 30.
- The CDU/CSU and SPD have a majority of about 50 votes there; the Federal Convention includes 630 Bundestag MPs and as many state delegates.
Key FactsSchleswig-Holstein CDU plans to send Merkel to presidential vote
3 hours ago · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: tagesspiegel.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: tagesspiegel.de
- The CDU in Schleswig-Holstein plans to send former Chancellor Angela Merkel to the 2027 Federal Convention to elect the president.
- A decision on Steinmeier’s successor is scheduled for January 30, 2027, while Berlin’s governing coalition has not agreed on a candidate.
- Federal Education Minister Karin Prien, Minister-President Daniel Günther and former handball star Patrick Wiencek are also expected to vote for the CDU.
- Merkel recently advocated a woman to succeed Steinmeier, noting that Germany had gone 77 years without a female president.
“In the 77-year history of the Federal Republic of Germany, there has never been a woman president.”— Angela Merkel said this in an interview with MagentaTV, where she argued for a woman to succeed Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Goodbye Federal President! Nobody needs this embodiment of pointlessness.: Our author believes that the detached debate about the head of state shows how far ...
schwaebische.de/politik/bundespraesident-ade-niemand-braucht-diese-fleischgewordene-zwecklosigkeit-4969402
During a discussion about the Ukraine summit: Steinmeier: Xi "showed the irritation on his face"
n-tv.de/politik/Steinmeier-Xi-stand-die-Irritation-in-seinem-Gesicht-id31481697.html
Debate about Steinmeier's successor: Ines who? This is the surprise candidate from Hesse
tagesspiegel.de/politik/ines-wer-das-ist-die-uberraschungskandidatin-aus-hessen-16208373.html
Key FactsInes Claus discussed as possible successor to Steinmeier
5 days ago · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: tagesspiegel.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: tagesspiegel.de
- According to Tagesspiegel information, Claus had long been on an internal candidate list in government circles; her name became public only now.
- On Tuesday, the Hesse CDU parliamentary group leader expressed interest in the presidency and stressed the need for an orderly process.
- Merz’s circle said no decision or proposal had yet been made; the CDU executive committee meeting on November 9 is the first milestone.
- Green politician Omid Nouripour rejected Claus as a candidate and voiced support for Ilse Aigner.
“We have not yet had a woman at Schloss Bellevue, so it stands to reason that the time has come.”— Ines Claus said this in March in an interview with the FAZ, when asked whether the next head of state should be a woman.
Joachim Gauck on Maybrit Illner: Yes to Merz and the Berlin Left: In a program about turbulent times in Germany and Europe, former Federal President Joachim ...
faz.net/aktuell/feuilleton/medien-und-film/talkshow/joachim-gauck-bei-maybrit-illner-ja-zu-merz-und-berliner-linken-accg-201634874.html
Key FactsReview criticizes Illner’s show on youth protests
4 days ago · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: sueddeutsche.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: sueddeutsche.de
- An opening clip listed youth protests in France, Italy, Spain, Belgium and Serbia; the program did not return to those countries later.
- The youth protests were discussed only sporadically; young people themselves were not present on the program.
- Philipp Blom described democracy as a game and explained the metaphor only when he spoke again about 15 minutes later.
- Asked by Illner about breaking up or socializing large AI companies, Paul Ronzheimer said he was no expert but had an opinion.
The problem with our democracy is that it is a system of certainties that are not guaranteed.— Joachim Gauck, former German president, in a prerecorded conversation about the uncertainties of democracy.
Steinmeier's successor: Merkel advocates for a female head of state: In the debate about the successor to the Federal President, Angela Merkel offers her ...
spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/angela-merkel-wirbt-fuer-weibliches-staatsoberhaupt-a-d99ca43c-2b94-4a8c-81e2-0213f1433bba
Bundespräsidentin? Ricarda Lang: „Debatte macht mich aggressiv“: Im Januar soll ein Nachfolger für Bundespräsident Steinmeier gewählt werden ...
trib.al/EoRrj8t
Successor to Steinmeier: Merz Insists on the CDU’s Right to Nominate: The debate over who will succeed Federal President Steinmeier is gaining momentum ...
tagesschau.de/inland/innenpolitik/nachfolge-steinmeier-100.html
Key FactsMerz stresses CDU’s claim in presidential selection
6 days ago · Reading time: ~30 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: sueddeutsche.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: sueddeutsche.de
- The chancellor’s aides said Merz had made neither a decision nor a proposal.
- According to Merz’s aides, the CDU claims the right to nominate, as the largest delegation in the Federal Convention.
- Before the CDU executive meeting on November 9, talks are planned with state leaders, CDU state premiers and the CSU.
- According to Merz’s aides, the SPD and Greens are to be included afterward, with the aim of broad democratic backing for the election.
The Jewish Student Union of Germany has a favorite to succeed Frank-Walter Steinmeier: They believe Education Minister Karin Prien is capable of holding the ... Show more
Steinmeier speech in China: | "With greatness and power comes great responsibility"
tagesschau.de/ausland/asien/steinmeier-china-102.html
After Steinmeier, a woman: Merz wants a female Federal President: For a long time, the Chancellor remained silent on the question of who should succeed ...
nzz.ch/deutschland/politik/es-muss-eine-frau-werden-auch-friedrich-merz-will-eine-bundespraesidentin-ld.10052731
Federal Presidency: Karin Prien wants a decision on Steinmeier's successor by November 9th
zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2026-10/karin-prien-cdu-bundespraesident-kandidatin-frau
Key FactsPrien calls for tax on AI-driven value creation
5 days ago · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: stern.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: stern.de
- Prien told stern that value creation generated mainly through artificial intelligence should be taxed.
- According to Prien, the revenue should fund education and enable targeted investment in opportunities for children and young people.
- The Union is divided in an ongoing policy debate over taxing artificial intelligence.
- Economy Minister Katherina Reiche has so far ruled out such a tax; Chancellor Friedrich Merz is also critical of it.
“If value creation is driven primarily by artificial intelligence, it must be taxed too. There is no other way.”— CDU deputy leader Karin Prien said this to stern while discussing the taxation of value created through artificial intelligence.
Hape Kerkeling Touched by Petition Calling for Him to Be Federal President: According to a petition, Hape Kerkeling should become the Federal President ...
stern.de/politik/deutschland/hape-kerkeling-geruehrt-von-petition-fuer-ihn-als-bundespraesidenten-38391472.html
Key FactsKerkeling moved by petition proposing him as president
Oct 14, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: ksta.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: ksta.de
- Nearly 155,000 people signed the online appeal proposing Hape Kerkeling as Germany’s federal president.
- He did not explicitly reject interest in the office but emphasized the CDU’s importance in choosing the candidate.
- He said the petition would probably fail but could encourage a useful debate about a queer head of state.
- At a hearing in Thuringia, he strongly advocated banning the AfD.
Whoever votes for right-wing extremists does not want a mere slap on the wrist, as is often said. Whoever wants the lions to come into the arena wants to see blood as well.— Hape Kerkeling; quoted in the KSTA article about voters' responsibility in the context of the AfD debate
SPD nominates Michel Friedman for the Federal Convention: According to the Hessian SPD, Michel Friedman should help decide who succeeds Frank-Walter Steinmeier ...
radioduisburg.de/dpa/spd-nominiert-michel-friedman-fuer-die-bundesversammlung-2795339
Federal presidential election: | "High hurdle" for all chancellors: Who will be the next Federal President? History shows: The election has repeatedly sparked ...
zdfheute.de/politik/deutschland/bundespraesident-wahl-geschichte-interview-100.html
Key FactsHistorian: Presidential Elections Pose Hurdles for Chancellors
1 days ago · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: zdfheute.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: zdfheute.de
- Dominik Geppert says chancellors must accurately assess Federal Convention majorities and find a candidate appealing to delegates and the public.
- Geppert cites Adenauer’s difficulties in 1959, Kohl’s search for a candidate in 1994 and, in his view, Merkel’s poor record after 2010.
- The surprise election of Gustav Heinemann in 1969 made longer-term shifts in the political landscape visible, Geppert says.
- The office increasingly requires political authority and legal skill for crises, alongside substantive speeches, according to Geppert.
With the political spectrum becoming more fragmented and conditions in the Bundestag much more difficult, what is now needed—even for emergencies and crises—is someone with political authority, legal finesse and political expertise to manage these difficult situations.— Historian Dominik Geppert explains in an interview with ZDFheute how the demands of the German presidency are changing.
A friendship full of pitfalls: Federal President Steinmeier visits China at a delicate time. He praises its economic strength but urges responsibility.
sueddeutsche.de/li.3571392
More intensive exchange: China wants to import more German products: Chinese Premier Li Qiang announced the import of more high-quality German products in a ...
spiegel.de/ausland/nach-steinmeier-besuch-china-will-mehr-deutsche-produkte-importieren-a-70011b91-2e9e-4e99-88fc-c79022334652
OpinionFuture Federal President: Ilse Aigner? A plausible idea: Please, no “respectable but ineffective” compromises. It has to be someone who immediately commands the ...
sueddeutsche.de/meinung/bundespraesidenten-wahl-ilse-aigner-friedrich-merz-kommentar-2027-li.3564026
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Smear campaign against Federal President Steinmeier: 70-year-old now faces hefty fine
swr.de/swraktuell/rheinland-pfalz/kaiserslautern/hass-und-hetze-gegen-bundespraesident-steinmeier-urteil-gesprochen-100.html
Steinmeier in China: Trade surplus in focus: Federal President Steinmeier has called on China to reduce its large trade deficit with Germany ...
tagesschau.de/ausland/asien/steinmeiner-xi-treffen-100.html
Today in Germany: A roundup of the latest news on Tuesday: Police shoot and stop car after ramming attack, Federal Assembly members consider who should be next ...
thelocal.de/20261027/today-in-germany-a-roundup-of-the-latest-news-on-tuesday-146
Paid articlePaywall"Would be completely inappropriate": Merz irritates opposition over Steinmeier's successor
n-tv.de/politik/Merz-irritiert-Opposition-bei-Steinmeier-Nachfolge-id31468516.html
Successor to Frank-Walter Steinmeier: CDU/CSU alliance wants to decide on presidential candidate soon
zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2026-11/bundespraesident-nachfolge-cdu-union-franziska-hoppermann-gxe
Steinmeier in China: A bit of hiking in the Yellow Mountains, playing table tennis, driving an electric car
spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/china-frank-walter-steinmeier-reist-zum-staatsbesuch-nach-peking-a-c18b5b7d-31ca-401a-a1f8-aa9624b010d5
Paid articlePaywall Warum Ines Claus eine gute Bundespräsidentin wäre: Keine andere deutsche Politikerin verkörpert die demokratische Mitte so glaubwürdig wie die Fraktionschefin ...
faz.net/aktuell/rhein-main/region-und-hessen/warum-ines-claus-eine-gute-bundespraesidentin-waere-201633721.html
SPD and Greens must not ignore Steinmeier's call to action: Without naming names, Federal President Steinmeier tells the SPD and the Greens: The fight ...
faz.net/aktuell/politik/inland/steinmeiers-zuruf-duerfen-spd-und-gruene-nicht-ueberhoeren-201643831.html
Petition for a queer federal president: Hape Kerkeling is touched—but doesn’t believe it will succeed
tagesspiegel.de/politik/petition-fur-einen-queeren-bundesprasidenten-hape-kerkeling-zeigt-sich-geruhrt--glaubt-aber-nicht-an-erfolg-16158830.html
Friedrich Merz: Merz sets off on a multi-day trip to Asia: The chancellor is traveling to Singapore, Japan, and South Korea. He aims to strengthen security ...
zeit.de/politik/ausland/2026-10/friedrich-merz-frank-walter-steinmeier-asienreise-china-singapur-japan-suedkorea-xi-jinping
Federal presidential election: Four women for a Bellevue: No, it doesn't have to be a woman who replaces Frank-Walter Steinmeier. But four female candidates ...
sueddeutsche.de/politik/bundespraesident-frau-merz-kloeckner-aigner-prien-claus-li.3570324
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Federal President: Schleswig-Holstein's Greens send Caroline Wahl: Caroline Wahl is to enter the Federal Convention. Schleswig-Holstein's parties are ...
shz.de/deutschland-welt/schleswig-holstein/artikel/bundespraesident-schleswig-holsteins-gruene-schicken-caroline-wahl-51669715
Paid articlePaywallSteinmeier in China: How Frank-Walter Steinmeier once climbed a mountain in China.
zeit.de/politik/2026-10/frank-walter-steinmeier-china-xi-jinping-staatsbesuch
Paid articlePaywall Steinmeier’s Successor: Does It Really Have to Be a Woman? The CDU Is Now Questioning That
spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/nachfolge-von-frank-walter-steinmeier-als-bundespraesident-so-diskutiert-die-cdu-a-67208d48-fd15-411c-a469-62a003a6e8f4
Paid articlePaywall Steinmeier's Visit to China: Xi Jinping Offers Strategic Stability: That China has long held the upper hand is not disputed in the Federal President's ...
faz.net/aktuell/politik/ausland/steinmeiers-china-besuch-xi-jinping-bietet-strategische-stabilitaet-an-201636457.html
2027 Federal Presidential Election: Merz Under Pressure—Who Will Succeed Steinmeier?
sueddeutsche.de/politik/bundespraesidenten-wahl-bundesversammlung-ilse-aigner-markus-soeder-friedrich-merz-li.3568603
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As German Chancellor Friedrich Merz travels to Singapore, Japan and South Korea, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is simultaneously visiting China to meet ... Show more
Steinmeier’s Successor: Why Not Hendrik Wüst?: Friedrich Merz is keeping the coalition waiting; he still hasn't proposed anyone to succeed Steinmeier ...
stern.de/politik/deutschland/5-minuten-talk-podcast/steinmeier-nachfolge--warum-eigentlich-nicht-hendrik-wuest--38407066.html
Ilse Aigner: Time is working against Merz in the presidential race: The CDU and CSU are not in agreement that Ilse Aigner should succeed Frank-Walter Steinmeier ...
nzz.ch/deutschland/politik/nachfolge-in-schloss-bellevue-in-der-bundespraesidentenfrage-spielt-die-zeit-gegen-merz-ld.10044790
Search for a new Federal President: Merz’s Silence Fuels Speculation: There are now at least two female candidates from the CDU/CSU for the office of Federal ...
augsburger-allgemeine.de/politik/suche-nach-neuem-bundespraesidenten-merz-schweigen-heizt-spekulationen-an-115584693
Steinmeier's successor: Miersch speaks out in favor of Aigner as Federal President
zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2026-10/ilse-aigner-bundespraesidentin-spd-matthias-miersch-gxe
#Bundespräsident Frank-Walter #Steinmeier celebrated the Harvest Festival in #Kulmbach on Sunday. Together with the German Farmers' Association and the German Rural Women's ... Show more
Chancellor Friedrich Merz is under pressure regarding the succession to Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The solution is obvious: Ilse Aigner could send a signal from ... Show more
A game of table tennis – but despite the smiles, the stakes are high. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is visiting China at a time of growing economic ... Show more
High-profile visit: Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Sunday in Kulmbach.
tvo.de/mediathek/video/hoher-besuch-bundespraesident-frank-walter-steinmeier-am-sonntag-in-kulmbach/
Steinmeier in China: How the relationship with Beijing has changed: Federal President Steinmeier travels to China - | as the first EU head of state since the ...
sueddeutsche.de/politik/china-deutschland-reise-steinmeier-li.3568105
Paid articlePaywall For a long time, it was considered a given that the next Federal President would be a woman. But many Christian Democrats don't consider that a foregone ... Show more
Steinmeier's successor: A delicate dance around Aigner - | the Union must finally decide
ga.de/news/politik/deutschland/steinmeier-nachfolge-eiertanz-um-aigner-die-union-muss-endlich-entscheiden_aid-157184005
Federal President Steinmeier in Kulmbach: Traditional harvest crown collected: Federal President Steinmeier in Kulmbach: Traditional harvest crown collected | ...
tvo.de/mediathek/video/bundespraesident-steinmeier-in-kulmbach-traditionelle-erntekrone-abgeholt-2/
Federal President: | "Thanks to agriculture on behalf of the entire country": On Sunday, the harvest crown was presented to Federal President Steinmeier in ...
topagrar.com/management-und-politik/news/bundesprasident-danke-der-landwirtschaft-im-namen-des-ganzen-landes-20030386.html
A dispute has erupted between the CDU and CSU over who should become the next Federal President. There is only one way out of this predicament for the ... Show more
Söder und Wüst nehmen Merz in der Bundespräsidentenfrage in die Zange
Söder und Wüst nehmen Merz in der Bundespräsidentenfrage in die Zange
Federal Presidential Election: SPD Urges the Union to Nominate the First Woman for the Office
trib.al/PoDgqgt
Federal President: | "Thanks to agriculture on behalf of the entire country": On Sunday, the harvest crown was presented to Federal President Steinmeier in ...
topagrar.com/management-und-politik/news/bundesprasident-danke-der-landwirtschaft-im-namen-des-ganzen-landes-20030386.html
State Parliament President Ilse Aigner speaks about previous cancer and single life
pnp.de/nachrichten/bayern/landtagspraesidentin-ilse-aigner-spricht-ueber-fruehere-krebserkrankung-und-single-leben-22210334
This license plate is extremely rare: Which celebrities are behind it?: Fährt dort der Bundespräsident oder die Justizministerin? Sonder-Nummerschilder sind ...
stern.de/auto/sonderkennzeichen-0-1--wer-fuehrt-dieses-und-beruehmte-weitere-nummernschilder--38407076.html
Hape Kerkeling makes a plea for peace: "Now I sound like Helmut Kohl.": An online petition is campaigning to make Hape Kerkeling Federal President ...
bunte.de/stars/hape-kerkeling-mit-plaedoyer-fuer-frieden-nun-klinge-ich-allerdings-wie-helmut-kohl_490f603d-9e46-4748-951b-5f1a1622868a.html
,regionOfInterest=(640,360)&hash=7ac4ac45545dbf3e09448d7160b4f961254d32a1c749852e494291d35c89d86e)
Hape Kerkeling as Federal President? Comedy icon fuels speculation about possible candidacy
chiemgau24.de/deutschland/hape-kerkeling-als-bundespraesident-petition-sammelt-unterschriften-94527384.html
After Bärbel Bas's resignation: Steinmeier appoints Schweitzer as Labor Minister
spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/ruecktritt-von-baerbel-bas-bundespraesident-frank-walter-steinmeier-ernennt-alexander-schweitzer-zum-arbeitsminister-a-0a326073-74f7-429b-b7cf-dadf8dad0644
On Sunday in Kulmbach - | Steinmeier is coming - | and hardly anyone knows about it
frankenpost.de/inhalt.am-sonntag-in-kulmbach-steinmeier-kommt-und-kaum-einer-weiss-davon.bed59518-2518-4a6e-b297-178a243e9aa6.html
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Reopening of the Würth Art Gallery in Hall: Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Reinhold Würth cut the red ribbon
swp.de/lokales/crailsheim/wiedereroeffnung-kunsthalle-wuerth-in-hall-bundespraesident-steinmeier-und-reinhold-wuerth-loesen-das-rote-band-79568863.html
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France: Commentary on Steinmeier's state visit: Joint expressions of friendship are important for Franco-German relations. Even more important is working ...
saarbruecker-zeitung.de/saarland/blickzumnachbarn/frankreich-kommentar-zu-staatsbesuch-von-steinmeier_aid-156266797
Federal President Steinmeier with Macron: They wanted to offer encouragement and spread melancholy
spiegel.de/ausland/frankreich-frank-walter-steinmeier-verabschiedet-sich-von-emmanuel-macron-a-1d1bf67f-3c4f-409f-86d4-25f040108344
Paid articlePaywallFederal Government: Steinmeier appoints Schweitzer as new Labor Minister
ga.de/steinmeier-ernennt-schweitzer-zum-neuen-arbeitsminister_aid-156426651
Regarding Steinmeier's successor, the CSU and SPD are putting pressure on the Chancellor: They want to make the Bavarian State Parliament President ... Show more
Merz and Steinmeier - | a perfect match: The Federal President has no say in the Federal Government. Frank-Walter Steinmeier interferes anyway ...
trib.al/PW13E9g
dpaq.de Oct 13
Schweitzer sworn in as Germany's new labour minister: Alexander Schweitzer has been sworn in as Germany's new labour minister following the surprise resignation ...
app.ekkow.com/1482778791795082197
