News blog on federal politics Söder confirms: women should now become head of state
September 5, 2026, 3:11 am|
CSU leader Markus Söder continues to favor a woman for the office of Federal President, thereby increasing the pressure on the CDU and Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
All developments in the live blog
In addition to our own research, we use material from the news agencies dpa, Reuters, epd, KNA and Bloomberg for our live blog.
Important updates
Goethe Institute sees end of work in Russia as a turning point
Spahn goes to the budget committee for Union
Kiesewetter: Measures against Russia are not enough
Army Inspector: The enemy is not waiting for us to report that we are ready
According to research by “Süddeutscher Zeitung”, NDR and WDR, Rome is checking information on suspects
Ulrike Putz
Söder: Woman should now become head of state
CSU leader Markus Söder continues to favor a woman for the office of head of state, thereby increasing the pressure on the CDU and Chancellor Friedrich Merz. "For over a year there was intensive discussion in the Union - initially in the CDU - and also in the SPD about the fact that it had to be a woman. This debate did not come from the CSU. Now, shortly before the end, to say that a woman might not be suitable for the office of Federal President after all, I think is extremely problematic," said the Bavarian Prime Minister of the Rheinische Post.
The CSU leader emphasized: "The decision will be made together. But it is clear to me that the fundamental decision to nominate a woman should no longer be changed at short notice. What kind of signal would that be?"
Söder once again named the Bavarian state parliament president Ilse Aigner (CSU) as a possible candidate: "If Ilse Aigner is interested in it, she would certainly be an excellent candidate. However, these are not processes that can be carried out on an open market. The central question is: How do we respond to the accusation from radical forces that Berlin and the establishment are out of touch and no longer have a connection to the people? Ilse Aigner could, with her proximity to the citizens and the people, help to resolve this area of tension to dismantle.” It was “very gratifying that there were also many positive reactions to her from the SPD and the CDU”.
Söder advocated a decision soon after the elections in the east. You don't have an infinite amount of time. "You don't just throw candidates for the office of Federal President out of the blue. This requires serious and trusting discussions," he emphasized.
In the ARD summer interview, Merz left it open whether Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier should necessarily have a woman succeed him: "The question of gender is less important than the personality of the next head of state. And the demands are high."
Lucia Geier
Nouripour: AfD stirs up false fears of election fraud
Bundestag Vice President Omid Nouripour rejects fears of election manipulation. “The way AfD representatives and those around them have tried to stir up concerns about alleged manipulation of postal voting is irritating,” the Green politician told the German Press Agency in Berlin. “These are targeted attacks on the integrity of the democratic electoral system that has proven itself over decades.”
Before the state elections on September 6th in Saxony-Anhalt, AfD chairman Tino Chrupalla sowed doubts that everything would be done correctly with postal voting. From conversations with carers and relatives, he knows of cases in nursing homes “where the pen was held, so to speak”. The AfD's top candidate in Saxony-Anhalt, Ulrich Siegmund, appealed to “look closely” at nursing homes. Nothing should be dictated from a “left or green corner,” he said on Platform
“Anyone who wants to delegitimize elections in advance is obviously preparing to doubt the results after the election and drive voters to the barricades.”
Omid Nouripour (Greens)
Nouripour emphasized that if there were isolated inconsistencies or attempts at fraud, the rule of law would provide for controls. There are security measures against mass manipulation. Siegmund's statement that he would accept the election results is unbelievable, says Nouripour. He warns against using disinformation and conspiracy theories to stir up sentiment against fair and free elections.
Lucia Geier
SPD General Secretary: AfD creates closeness “that we actually have to offer”
SPD General Secretary Tim Klüssendorf admits that his party is too far away from the voters. “Over many years, the SPD has become a - let me say this harshly - technocratic party,” Klüssendorf told the newspapers of the Funke media group. Most recently, the AfD has established closeness to voters, “which we actually have to offer, want to offer and will create again in the future,” said the SPD politician.
The AfD admitted that Klüssendorf would be successful in precisely this area. The party “organized a presence digitally and analogue, spoke the same language, complained a lot together and created projection surfaces”. He himself learned in election campaigns, on market squares and from front gardens to prefabricated buildings: "Getting people's trust back in us is very, very hard work" and only works in direct conversation. The SPD is “excellently knowledgeable about procedures and processes,” but the distance between federal politics and people has grown. Therefore, she has to work on her language, appearance and visibility in cities and villages.
Goethe Institute sees end of work in Russia as a turning point
According to the management, the closure of the Goethe-Institut announced by Russia marks the end of an era in bilateral cultural relations. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, institutes were opened in Moscow and Saint Petersburg and a location was added in Novosibirsk in 2009, explained President Gesche Joost on Thursday in Munich. The societies of both countries were closely linked through culture and language.
“The announcement by the Russian Foreign Minister marks the end of an era of German-Russian cultural relations,” explained Joost. The end is bad news for people in Russia who learn the language or visit libraries. Work had already been massively restricted in previous years. The institute had to reduce its workforce from 200 to just 15 employees in 2023.
Olympic champion Ronald Rauhe becomes the new Minister of State for Sports
The two-time Olympic canoe champion Ronald Rauhe will be the new Minister of State for Sport in the Federal Chancellery. Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) announced on Instagram that the 44-year-old is succeeding the previous Minister of State Christiane Schenderlein, whose move to the Ministry of Health was announced before the summer break. "Mr. Minister of State, welcome. I'm very happy, welcome to the team," says Merz in the Instagram video.
The Chancellor's decision completes the restructuring of the federal government following the resignation of Union parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn. The position in the Chancellery was the only one that remained vacant before the summer break.
The new Minister of State wants to work for better conditions in competitive sports and for better conditions for voluntary work. “Germany should once again be one of the most successful sporting nations in the world,” said the two-time Olympic canoe champion when he was introduced by Chancellor Merz in Berlin. Rauhe also wants to advance the bid for the Olympic Games in Germany.
Two-time Olympic canoe champion Ronald Rauhe (archive photo). Roland Weihrauch/dpa
Anna Schimpp
Spahn goes to the budget committee for Union
The former CDU/CSU parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn will in future sit on the Bundestag's budget committee for the Union. The Reuters news agency first reported, citing insiders. The personality was confirmed to the Süddeutsche Zeitung.
Spahn is apparently to become rapporteur for the Foreign Ministry's budget in the Budget Committee. The 46-year-old became a father in July with the help of a surrogate mother. In connection with the subsequent debate on the subject of surrogacy, Spahn came under pressure and resigned from his position. Afterwards there was speculation as to whether he would continue his political career. In recent weeks, however, it has become clear that he wants to hold on to his Bundestag mandate.
“I believe that Jens Spahn’s path is not yet over.”
Markus Söder (CSU)
When the party leadership was reorganized in July, CSU chairman Markus Söder was sure that a politician “with such talent and such political power” would take on a leading role again at some point.
Spahn met last week at the retreat of the executive faction leaders of the CDU/CSU and SPD in Münster for dinner with his successor Thorsten Frei, CSU regional group leader Alexander Hoffmann and SPD parliamentary group leader Matthias Miersch.
You can read more about surrogacy here:
Kiesewetter: Measures against Russia are not enough
CDU foreign politician Roderich Kiesewetter believes the measures announced by the federal government against Russia after the attack with an explosive drone at Leipzig/Halle Airport are inadequate. “The Russian House and the Consulate General should have been closed long ago for security reasons anyway,” Kiesewetter told the editorial network Germany (RND). It is not enough to simply take “symbolic and diplomatic measures”.
Kiesewetter called for consultations under Article 4 of the NATO Treaty. “The systematic nature of the attacks is also directed against NATO and is intended to divide and weaken the defense alliance,” he said. Article 4 provides for consultations between allies if a NATO state declares itself to be at risk from outside. But the federal government doesn't want to pull him.
The CDU politician continued that Russia sees purely diplomatic and symbolic measures as a sign of weakness. It is therefore to be expected that Russia will expand its measures. “So I expect further terror from Russia and military measures such as sabotage, targeted murders and terrorist attacks in Germany too.”
Army Inspector: The enemy is not waiting for us to report that we are ready
The inspector of the army, Lieutenant General Christian Freuding, is calling for more speed in the expansion of the Bundeswehr in view of the Russian threats. "We have to switch to a different mode. We urgently need to increase capacity," he told the state newspaper for the Lüneburger Heide, which is a partner in the editorial network Germany (RND).
Germany must be able to prevent a possible attack "by demonstrating military strength at the earliest possible point that provides a credible deterrent. That's why we need maximum speed," said Freuding. "The enemy is not waiting for us to report that it is finished. The sooner the war in Ukraine ends - and we all want that - the sooner the Russian armed forces will be able to attack."
The restructuring of the Bundeswehr not only includes technological innovation, but also further training of personnel. “I want us to gain combat power and operational value if we restructure ourselves now,” said Freuding. In training, for example, there is already a basic course on drone operation. “Everyone has to learn that, everyone has to be able to do that,” he said.
Bad Kreuznach: Nine injured after liquid attack on AfD stand
Nine people were injured in an attack with a liquid on an AfD information stand in Bad Kreuznach, Rhineland-Palatinate. According to the current investigation, a liquid was poured from an adjacent building towards the party's stand, the police said.
Several people came into contact with splashes on Wednesday afternoon and suffered minor skin irritations. As a precaution, two injured people were taken to a hospital for further examination and have since been able to leave, it said.
After the incident in the area of the bridge houses in the city center, there was a major deployment of police, fire and rescue services. A suspect has been identified.
Due to the small amount of liquid, no serious injuries are expected based on current knowledge, the police said. The investigation into the background of the incident is still ongoing. What type of liquid it was still needs to be investigated, said a police spokesman.
According to research by “Süddeutscher Zeitung”, NDR and WDR, Rome is checking information on suspects
Italy wants to examine information that a possible participant in the suspected Russian attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport is said to have entered the EU on a tourist visa issued by Italy. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on the sidelines of an EU meeting in Ireland that all necessary investigations would now be carried out. In principle, there is a procedure for issuing visas and certain requirements must be met. If the persons concerned meet these requirements and there is no warning message about them, the visa will be issued.
The Süddeutsche Zeitung, NDR and WDR had previously reported that investigators from the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) had now managed to identify suspects. Die Zeit reported that two suspects were being investigated. According to research by the Süddeutsche Zeitung, NDR and WDR, one of them is said to have entered the Schengen area with an Italian tourist visa. According to the authorities' findings, the document was issued at the end of April at an Italian diplomatic mission in Minsk, Belarus.
At the EU foreign ministers' meeting in Ireland, the reports sparked new discussions about a possible tightening of visa rules. If it is true that one of the suspects traveled to the EU on an Italian tourist visa, then this shows very clearly that the EU can be harmed using visas, said EU chief diplomat Kaja Kallas.
Many member states have already pointed out in the past that such tourist visas would be used for acts of sabotage because the perpetrators would have to get into the European Union. She hopes that if the information is confirmed, there could be a tightening of the current visa restrictions. “Because this is actually about our own safety,” she said.
Anna Schimpp
The President of the EU Commission and the Secretary General of NATO are calling for increased defense spending
After the Bun
