Overview

• At a Berlin open day, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he can very well imagine a woman being elected Bundespräsidentin in 2027 and pledged to boost women’s representation, citing his push to install Julia Klöckner as Bundestagspräsidentin.
• Frank-Walter Steinmeier is in his second term and is barred from running again, with the Federal Convention set to vote in February 2027.
• Government circles cited by Der Spiegel reportedly view Ursula von der Leyen as a strong possibility, though any move would require her to leave the EU Commission, where her mandate runs until 2029.
• Bavarian premier Markus Söder has been mentioned in speculation but has said the presidency is not for him and that he prefers his current roles.
• CSU elder Horst Seehofer has promoted Ilse Aigner as a potential successor, and parties are expected to negotiate a consensus candidate behind closed doors.