The debate on the succession of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, whose term ends next year, is underway. The election, scheduled for January 30, aims to choose the first female president. Among the names discussed are Ilse Aigner (CSU), with broad cross-party support, and Ines Claus (CDU).

Ilse Aigner has received endorsements from CSU, the Greens, and SPD. Friedrich Merz's CDU, however, intends to propose its own candidate. Sources close to the Chancellor have denied his preferences for Ines Claus, awaiting an orderly process. The CDU will meet on November 9 to discuss candidacies, aiming for a name with broad public consensus.

The presidential election takes place via a Federal Convention composed of parliamentarians and state delegates. The governing coalition (CDU-CSU-SPD) holds the majority, allowing it to elect its own candidate. This makes internal discussions and coordination crucial ahead of the January vote, as reported by Deutsche Welle.

In a different context, a YouGov survey published by Deutsche Welle reveals that almost three-quarters of Germans will not celebrate Halloween this year. The survey (October 27, 2,666 adults) shows 74% are inclined not to participate in the celebrations. The tradition is more popular among young people (50% of 18-24 year olds), dropping drastically among those over 55 (11%), with no regional differences.