German politicians agitate for woman to take over Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s job

Admin I Friday, March 08, 2024

 

BERLIN – High-profile female politicians from across the spectrum have called for a woman to occupy the German presidency for the first time in the country’s history.

The appeal was made in an article published in the Tagesspiegel newspaper ahead of International Women’s Day on Friday.

Participants included members of the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU), the liberal Free Democrats (FDP) and the Green Party.

The office of president is the highest in Germany, although many of the responsibilities are ceremonial.

“It would be good if the democratic parties agreed on a qualified woman as a candidate for the office of president,” Malu Dreyer, the premier of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, told the newspaper.

“A female president would be an encouragement for many women in Germany and beyond,” the SPD politician said.

“As minister for women, I would very much welcome a female candidate for the next election for the German head of state, if the parties can agree on this in 2027,” Green Party politician Lisa Paus told the Tagesspiegel.

FDP politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann would also be in favour of a female president. “It’s high time that a woman moved into Bellevue Palace,” the member of the Bundestag told the newspaper, referring to the German president’s official residence in Berlin.

The rules state that the president must be a German citizen, have the right to vote in the Bundestag, and have reached the age of 40. The term of office lasts five years. Subsequent re-election is only permitted once. The second and last term of office of the current president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, ends in 2027.

The German president is not elected by popular vote. Instead, a special convention is established to choose the winning candidate by secrete ballot.