Frankfurt (Germany), 25 August (LaPresse) – German Chancellor and CDU leader Friedrich Merz is reportedly considering European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as a possible candidate for the role of federal president in 2027, replacing Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Der Spiegel reports this, citing government sources. Von der Leyen could become the first woman to hold the role of federal president. During the recent open day at the Federal Chancellery, Merz was asked whether a woman could finally become federal president in 2027. ‘That would be good,’ replied the chancellor. According to Der Spiegel, von der Leyen could be considered a strong candidate, even in opposition to a possible candidacy by former Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is being backed by the Greens. At the same time, the German weekly points out that the President of the European Commission will only be re-elected at the end of 2024, which means she would lose more than half of her term in the federal presidential elections in February 2027.
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