Angela Merkel is campaigning for a female head of state

"There are 77 years of history in the Federal Republic of Germany, and there has never been a woman as Federal President," complained former Chancellor Angela Merkel in the talk show "Best Cast" with Johannes B. Kerner. Everyone has to ask themselves “whether now isn’t the time.”

In Merkel's opinion, only a woman is considered to succeed incumbent Frank-Walter Steinmeier. "I know people who are already born and who are female and who could do it," emphasized Merkel. However, she didn't want to name any names.

On January 30th, the Federal Assembly will decide on the new Federal President. The CSU chairman Markus Söder has been campaigning for the Bavarian state parliament president Ilse Aigner for months. The CDU includes, among others, Bundestag President Julia Klöckner, Education Minister Karin Prien and former party leader Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer.

She was also critical of her own party's current course. “Pure CDU is not economic policy,” emphasized the long-time party leader. "The pure CDU has always been about building bridges in all directions of society - and that must be brought to the fore again." With this, the long-time CDU leader once again dealt against Friedrich Merz.

Merz is turning the search for a female federal president into a test of strength. While support for CSU politician Ilse Aigner is growing, it is becoming increasingly clear: the Chancellor is not satisfied with it. But does that still matter?