Time for a Change: Kloecker Pushes for a Female Federal President After Steinmeier
Klöckner advocates for a future German president following Steinmeier's term.
Discussions about the nation's highest office are heating up as Bundestag President Julia Kloecker advocates for a woman's nomination as Federal President. In her eyes, it's about time for normality - a female leader in the highest state position.
Kloecker, a CDU politician, expressed her views to Stern magazine, stating, "Since 1949, there have been twelve men on the list of Federal Presidents, no women. That's the opposite of equality." She urges the coalition partners to take action, considering it a "long overdue step."
Christina Stumpp, deputy CDU general secretary, had previously spoken out in favor of a woman as head of state. Kloecker's announcement is welcomed by Stumpp, who sees it as an important step forward.
The Green parliamentary group leader, Britta Haesselmann, echoes Kloecker's sentiments. She told Stern, "Of course, a woman should finally also take over the highest office in the state." Haesselmann criticizes the long-standing trend of men being put forward for the role, arguing that it's time to break the cycle.
Women make up more than half of society, yet their perspectives have often been missing in high-level positions. Haesselman's criticism of politicians like Friedrich Merz, who has a male-dominated power circle, underscores this point. In Merz's coalition committee, there's only one woman from the SPD.
As the incumbent, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier's second term ends on March 18, 2027. He cannot be re-elected. Speculations about potential candidates for the 2027 election are ongoing, with names like Malu Dreyer, Minister-President of Rhineland-Palatinate from the Social Democratic Party (SPD), being mentioned.
Other influential women in German politics include Annalena Baerbock, the current Foreign Minister from the Green Party, and Svenja Schulze, a former Federal Minister for the Environment from the SPD. However, there is no specific indication that these individuals are candidates for the Federal Presidency in 2027.
The push for a female Federal President is centered on the desire for representation and equality. With discussions ongoing and potential candidates emerging, the stage is set for a significant change in German politics.
Sources: ntv.de, toh/dpa
The Commission, in the midst of these political discussions, has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation.
Kloecker's advocacy for a female Federal President has sparked debates about the representation and equality in high-level political positions, shedding light on the need for ionizing radiation protection regulations as well.
