Friedrich Merz has said he is committed to the next German president being a woman, a shift from his earlier position that the candidate’s gender was irrelevant. The question has become more pressing as Ilse Aigner of the CSU and Ines Claus of the CDU are the Union candidates reportedly being discussed.
The column argues that the Union’s selection process is leaving room for criticism, including from CDU district leaders who may ask why the nominee must come from the CDU rather than its Bavarian sister party. It also notes that representatives of the SPD and Greens have described Aigner as suitable for the role.
Merz wants to agree with CSU leader Markus Söder on a joint candidate by November 9, before the CDU executive meets. If Söder cannot secure Aigner’s nomination, the column argues, the resulting political difficulty may fall more heavily on Merz than on Söder, potentially worsening relations between the chancellor and the CSU. It suggests Söder could then challenge Merz on the separate question of the Union’s candidate for chancellor.
Sources: FAZ.