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No Female Federal President in Germany Since 1949 - Who Could Break the Mold?
(Gossip & Politics)
By: David Fischer
Gossip Worthy
Bundestag President Julia Klöckner anticipates a female Federal President taking office in 2027. The discussion revolves around various candidates, with speculations about Ilse Aigner, Karin Prien, Malu Dreyer, Annalena Baerbock, and Julia Klöckner herself. However, the Rhineland-Palatinate politician's controversial role as the Bundestag President has garnered criticism.
A Century and Counting: Just a Man's Game?
Since 1949, the office of Federal President has been an exclusive boys' club. To combat this lack of gender diversity, Klöckner champions the idea of a female Federal President, asserting there is a desperate need for change as the current male-dominated lineup is the antithesis of equality.
- 1949 - 1959: Theodor Heuss
- 1959 - 1969: Heinrich Lübke
- 1969 - 1974: Gustav Heinemann
- 1974 - 1979: Walter Scheel
- 1979 - 1984: Karl Carstens
- 1984 - 1994: Richard von Weizsäcker
- 1994 - 1999: Roman Herzog
- 1999 - 2004: Johannes Rau
- 2004 - 2010: Horst Köhler
- 2010 - 2012: Christian Wulff
- 2012 - 2017: Joachim Gauck
- since 2017: Frank-Walter Steinmeier
Besides women, East Germans and individuals with migration backgrounds remain underrepresented.
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Female Federal President? CDU Has the Second-Lowest Women's Quota in the Bundestag
With the CDU holding the voting power in 2027, the search for potential female candidates intensifies. Although women make up only 23 percent of the CDU's present Bundestag fraction, it's worth exploring prominent female politicians from the party who could be strong contenders:
- Annalena Baerbock: Despite not being officially announced as a presidential candidate, the current Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs reigns as a powerful figure in German politics.
- "The Iron Lady of Rhineland-Palatinate": Malu Dreyer, the Minister-president of Rhineland-Palatinate and a member of Social Democratic Party of Germany, has expressed her support for a female Federal President, capturing the attention of many female hopefuls.
The Federal President, often referred to as the ceremonial head of state, is elected by the Federal Convention, a body consisting of Bundestag members and delegates from the states. Based on the party-political majority ratios, the most promising candidates can be identified in advance.
Julia Klöckner, the Bundestag President, anticipates a female Federal President taking office in 2027, arguing that there is a desperate need for change in the male-dominated lineup of Federal Presidents since 1949. Annalena Baerbock and Malu Dreyer, both prominent female politicians, are potential candidates for this position, particularly with the CDU holding the voting power in 2027.
