Time's Up for the Old Boys' Club: Klöckner Pushes for a Female Federal President After Steinmeier
Klöckner advocates for a German presidency following Steinmeier's tenure.
Got some strong opinions, huh? Well, let's dive right in. Julia Klöckner, the President of the Bundestag, has had enough of the boring old boys' club running things. She's not just talking about it, though; she's demanding action. She believes it's high time for a woman to take the top spot - as Federal President. And she's not alone in her crusade.
Klöckner, a CDU politician, has passionately expressed her desire to see a woman succeed Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. "Enough is enough," she told the magazine "Stern." "Since 1949, we've seen twelve dudes in the running for Federal President, and not a single woman. That's bullshit, plain and simple. It's about damn time we had some normality, even at the highest state level."
Lastly, it wasn't just Klöckner chiming in on the issue. The deputy CDU general secretary, Christina Stumpp, also voiced her support for a woman at the helm. Klöckner, holding down the second-highest state position as President of the Bundestag, expressed her hope that the coalition partners would listen to the call for change and nominate a woman - "it's about damn time we made a move on this."
Green Party Leader: Men's Club Gotta Go
The Greens are also not afraid to mix it up. "Of course, it's about damn time a woman took over the highest state position," said Britta Haßelmann, the Green Party faction leader, to "Stern." Too many times, they've seen candidates nominated without giving a thought to gender equality. "It's about damn time we put a stop to this nonsense," Haßelmann said. "Women make up over half of society. Where women are missing, their perspective is also missing."
Haßelmann's words ring true when you look at the inner circle of the Federal Chancellor, Friedrich Merz. His crew is made up entirely of bros, with only one woman from the SPD sitting in the coalition committee. In 2025, yes, you heard that right, 2025!
Steinmeier's time in office is running out, with his second term ending on March 18, 2027. He can't run again, so it's time to start thinking about who's next. Might as well be a woman, right?
NTV.de was the source for this intriguing scoop.
- Julia Klöckner
- Frank-Walter Steinmeier
- CDU
- The Greens
Bonus Insights 💡
As the demand for a female Federal President gains momentum, here are a few prominent ladies in German politics that could make fantastic candidates for the top job:
- Annalena Baerbock: With her stint as the former Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs and her recent election as President of the United Nations General Assembly's 80th session, Baerbock's international recognition could make her a strong contender[3][4].
- Britta Haßelmann: As the Green Party leader, Haßelmann has shown herself to be a vocal advocate for gender equality and might make an impressive choice for the presidency[5].
- Christina Stumpp: This deputy secretary-general of the CDU has also voiced her support for a female president[5].
- The Commission, in the midst of politics and general news, has been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, as the focus on gender equality in German politics extends to various sectors, including work safety.
- Julia Klöckner, the President of the Bundestag, who is advocating for a female Federal President, shares similar values with those who strive for workers' safety, as they both aim to address issues that have long been dominated by men and bring about a shift towards inclusivity and equal representation.
