Merz Considers Von Der Leyen's Candidacy For German President

• 25.08.2025, 18:55

The German chancellor may run for the presidency in the 2027 election.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz may nominate European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for the presidency of Germany in the 2027 election. This was reported on Monday, August 25, by Spiegel, citing sources.

According to Spiegel, Merz had earlier replied that "it would be good" when asked if he would like a woman to become Germany's new president.

Spiegel notes that the list of presidential candidates is short:

Julia Kleck is the speaker of the Bundestag;

Karin Prin is the family minister;

Ilze Aigner is the speaker of the Bavarian parliament.

But according to reporters, discussions continued in German government circles regarding the candidacy of Ursula von der Leyen. However, Spiegel specifies that von der Leyen would lose more than half of her term as head of the European Commission because she is up for re-election in 2024.

Spiegel also believes that the position of president could be attractive to her: she would again be a first in history - the first female defense minister, the first female president of the European Commission and the first female federal president.

On July 18, the European Parliament re-elected Ursula von der Leyen as president of the European Commission. This is her second term in the post.

She has led the European Commission since December 1, 2019. Before that, she was Germany's defense minister from 2013 to 2019.