STERN-Survey - A woman as Federal President? Most Germans could care less.
In Berlin, speculation is already underway for the 2027 election of a Federal President, marking the end of Frank-Walter Steinmeier's second term. The "Bild" Newspaper named authors Juli Zeh (SPD) and Ilse Aigner (CSU) as potential candidates. Annalena Baerbock (Greens), who previously renounced a Chancellor candidacy, is also seen as an aspirant. Recently, politicians such as Malu Dreyer, the long-standing Minister-President of Rhineland-Palatinate, have called for a woman to take the helm of the state.
The Call for a Woman as Federal President has grown quieter
77% of Germans are indifferent to the gender of the head of state, according to a Forsa survey commissioned by stern. 18% want a woman, 4% a man. This represents a decrease in the call for a female head of state compared to 2016: At that time, 24% of respondents had advocated for a female Federal President.
Women's preference for a female head of state is also 71%. The strongest demand for a woman in the Bellevue Palace is among Green Party voters: They demand a female Federal President to the tune of 30%. The preferences of supporters of other parties are significantly lower: SPD (21%), FDP (21%), The Left (20%), CDU/CSU (13%), and AfD (11%).
Gesine Schwan and Dagmar Schipanski were contenders
The Federal President is elected by the Federal Assembly, which consists of members equally elected from the Bundestag deputies and representatives elected from the state parliaments. The power dynamics there have become more complex in recent years due to the poor electoral performance of the traditional people's parties, SPD and CDU/CSU. After the state elections in Thuringia, Saxony, and Brandenburg, the AfD was expected to have a stronger representation. The Bundestag election in 2025 could also lead to greater shifts. It is likely that a coalition of more than two parties will be necessary for the election of the head of state.
The parties have only put forward women when their chances of being elected were slim. Gesine Schwan (SPD) lost to Horst Köhler (CDU) in 2004. Dagmar Schipanski (then non-partisan, later CDU) lost to Johannes Rau (SPD) in 1999.
The data were obtained by market and opinion research institute Forsa for stern and RTL Germany on July 18 and 19, 2024 via telephone interviews. Sample size: 1002 respondents. Therefore, the survey is representative. Statistical error margin: +/- 3 percentage points
- Despite the decrease in the call for a female Federal President since 2016, the Green Party in Germany strongly advocates for a woman to succeed Frank-Walter Steinmeier, with 30% of their supporters expressing this preference.
- In the upcoming 2027 election for the Federal President, potential candidates include SPD author Juli Zeh and CSU's Ilse Amber, along with Annalena Baerbock, who initially rejected a Chancellor candidacy but is now seen as an aspirant.
- Previous attempts to elect a female Federal President in Germany have been unsuccessful, with Gesine Schwan (SPD) losing to Horst Köhler (CDU) in 2004, and Dagmar Schipanski (CDU) falling short against Johannes Rau (SPD) in 1999.
