Honorable retirement: Merz wants to attach von der Leyen as president of Germany

The current head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, may become the first female president of Germany. This is reported by Der Spiegel magazine.

According to the publication, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is considering von der Leyen's candidacy for the 2027 elections along with Bundestag President Julia Kleckner, Family Minister Karin Prin and Bavarian Parliament President Ilse Aigner.

"Several factors make this idea attractive, for example, for von der Leyen herself: she has already proven herself in Brussels thanks to the "Green Course" and assistance to Ukraine, and her resignation would not be a downgrade. And she would again be the first of her kind: the first Minister of Defense, the first president of the European Commission and the first federal president," the publication quoted Haqqin as saying.

Candidates for the post of President of Germany are nominated by parties and political associations, and then elected by the Federal Assembly — a special body consisting of members of the Bundestag and delegates from the federal states. Thus, the head of state is not directly elected by the people of Germany.

The powers of the President are predominantly representative and symbolic: he represents the country in the international arena, accredits ambassadors and has the right to pardon.