German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says Germany’s next president must be a woman, as the country moves toward choosing a successor to President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Steinmeier’s term is set to end next year, with one report specifying an election date of 30 January.
Across the coverage, the remarks are framed as part of preparations within Germany’s ruling coalition as it nears a decision on who should succeed Steinmeier. Bloomberg and Free Malaysia Today both focus on Merz’s call for a female head of state, presented as a first for Germany.
Deutsche Welle also reports Merz’s position, while adding broader context about the timing of Steinmeier’s second term ending in March and noting Merz’s separate emphasis on “digital sovereignty” in the era of AI. The outlets broadly agree on the core claim and the leadership transition, but differ on scheduling detail and whether they include related policy themes.
