Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has expressed the hope that a woman could succeed Frank-Walter Steinmeier as Germany's head of state. In remarks given to the broadcaster MagentaTV and reported by the outlet Deutsche Welle, Merkel noted that no female figure has ever held this office in the country's seventy-seven years of republican history. While stating that she knows individuals up to the task, the former leader preferred not to indicate any specific candidacy for the role.

The Federal Convention will vote for the election of the new president on the upcoming January 30. The German institutional office holds a predominantly ceremonial function, and Steinmeier will not be able to run for a third consecutive term at the end of his second mandate. Within the political spectrum, discussions continue to identify a consensus candidate, but so far no formal agreement has been reached on the profiles to submit to the plenary assembly in the coming months.

Among the hypotheses at the center of conservative negotiations is the president of the Bavarian parliament Ilse Aigner, who enjoys the support of Christian Social Union leader Markus Söder. Within the Christian Democratic Union, the names of Bundestag President Julia Klöckner, Education Minister Karin Prien, and former Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer are also being discussed. Merkel, however, expressed reservations about the progress of the discussions, criticizing the unpleasant tones that emerged during the preliminary phase of the internal debate.

Finally, the former chancellor urged her political force to maintain an inclusive orientation, emphasizing that the identity of the Christian Democratic Union should not be limited solely to the economic sphere. In her view, the party's tradition requires building solid bridges toward all social components. This call comes as national politics prepares for the official launch of candidacies for the highest institutional office.