Germany Tagesschau
Successor to Steinmeier: Merz insists on the CDU's right to make proposals
The debate about the successor to Federal President Steinmeier is gaining momentum. The Chancellor's circle now says: Merz has not yet made a decision - and sees the right to make suggestions
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Successor to Steinmeier Merz confirms the CDU's right to make proposals As of: October 28, 2026 • 8:21 a.m
The debate about the successor to Federal President Steinmeier is gaining momentum. The Chancellor's circle now says: Merz has not yet made a decision - and sees the CDU as having the right to make proposals.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz is interested in an “orderly process” when selecting the successor to Federal President Steinmeier. The ARD capital studio learned this from those around him during the Chancellor's trip to Asia.
Accordingly, Merz basically sees the CDU as having the right to propose the office of head of state. As the largest party in the Federal Assembly, it has the right to nominate the candidate. However, Merz has “not yet made a decision” about this.
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The CDU's sister party, the CSU, is campaigning for the President of the Bavarian state parliament, Ilse Aigner, to become the new Federal President. The name of the CDU parliamentary group leader in the Hesse state parliament, Ines Claus, is also circulating.
When it comes to the question of who will actually succeed Steinmeier, the CDU executive committee meeting on November 9th is an “important target point”. Until then, Merz wants to hold talks with the prime ministers and state chairmen of the CDU as well as with the sister party CSU about possible personnel proposals from the Union.
If an agreement within the Union is achieved, Merz will then seek talks with the coalition partner SPD and also with the Greens. He is therefore hoping for a candidate who has a lot of support from the “broad democratic center”. It is unclear whether a name should be announced publicly on November 9th - or only after further agreement with the other parties.
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The federal presidential election is on January 30, 2027 in Berlin. Most recently, Aigner was considered the favorite to succeed Steinmeier. She has strong support in the CSU. But support for Aigner also came from the CDU and the SPD.
Negative voices towards Aigner cannot be heard publicly. Nevertheless, as CDU leader, Merz is apparently under internal pressure to fill the highest office in the state from within his own ranks - or at least to examine it very seriously.
This topic in the program: tagesschau.de | Federal Presidential successor Ines Claus possible candidate | Oct 27, 2026 | 7:53 p.m.BR24 Radio | News | Oct 28, 2026 | 06:34 AMBR24 Radio | News | Oct 28, 2026 | 07:30 am