In the debate over the succession to Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the SPD is insisting that the coalition nominate a woman for Germany's highest state office. "It is high time for a woman in the office of Federal President," Dirk Wiese, parliamentary secretary of the SPD parliamentary group in the Bundestag, told the Augsburger Allgemeine in its Saturday edition.
Wiese stressed that this SPD position still stands, a remark evidently aimed at comments made by Thorsten Frei, leader of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group. In early August, Frei had spoken out against the governing parties committing themselves in advance. The SPD has clear ideas about the profile of a possible candidate, Wiese went on. "She should enjoy trust across party lines, speak plainly and be able to convey confidence and cohesion to people in difficult times."
The SPD does not yet want to commit itself to a name, the parliamentary secretary added. "A background in politics certainly does no harm, but is by no means a prerequisite." There have already been Federal Presidents, he said, "who were independents or who had previously held no political office and who enjoyed high standing among many parts of the population."
Meanwhile, Free Voters leader Hubert Aiwanger has raised the prospect of supporting a possible candidacy by Bavarian state parliament president and CSU politician Ilse Aigner, should she be nominated. "It is all still very speculative, but we take a positive view of a promising centre-right candidacy from Bavaria," he told the Augsburger Allgemeine. Aigner's name has come up with increasing frequency in the recent discussion about the succession to Steinmeier.
Federal President Steinmeier's term of office ends in spring 2027. A successor will be elected on 30 January next year. Having served two terms, Steinmeier is not permitted to stand again.
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