For the majority of German citizens, gender plays no role in the selection of the country’s highest office. A Forsa survey conducted for the broadcasters RTL and ntv revealed that 70 percent are indifferent to whether a man or a woman takes the role next, though 28 percent specifically wish for a female president, compared to only two percent who prefer a male president. This means the proportion favoring a woman in office has risen from 19 to 28 percent. Among female respondents, 36 percent explicitly endorse electing a female president. Additionally, followers of the Greens (44 percent) and the Left Party (43 percent) are most likely to prefer a woman for the top state office.
When considering potential candidates, former Chancellor Angela Merkel is far ahead. Fifty percent of German citizens deem the former Chancellor suitable for the job. She is followed by Ilse Aigner with 36 percent and Thomas de Maizière with 33 percent. Merkel and Aigner are the only two candidates cited who rate higher in suitability than in unsuitability.
However, other candidates face significant obstacles. Julia Klöckner received endorsement from 28 percent, while 51 percent judged her unsuitable. Similarly, Markus Söder was deemed fit by only 22 percent, with 70 percent judging him unfit. Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer received 21 percent positive assessments, but 60 percent deemed her unsuitable. Karin Prien, Boris Rhein, and Ines Claus received lower levels of support (13 percent, 9 percent, and 4 percent, respectively), though the majority of respondents could not evaluate or did not know them. For Prien, Rhein, and Claus, the proportion who found them unsuitable stood at 30, 24, and 13 percent, respectively.
Regional differences show varying levels of support. In Bavaria, a majority of 52 percent consider Aigner suitable for the presidency. Support for Söder in Bavaria was significantly lower at 31 percent, and even Merkel only garnered 49 percent, narrowly falling behind Aigner. Conversely, Merkel received the highest suitability ratings in both Eastern and Western Germany-48 percent in the East and 51 percent in the West. Aigner’s support is higher in the West (37 percent) than in the East (25 percent). Thomas de Maizière was rated similarly across both regions, at 32 percent in the East and 33 percent in the West, while Söder reached 20 percent in the East and 22 percent in the West.
Among Union supporters, Aigner, Merkel, and Klöckner are among the most frequently rated candidates for the highest state office. Aigner leads this group with 64 percent support, followed by Klöckner at 55 percent, and Merkel at 46 percent. Thomas de Maizière achieved a comparable rating to Merkel with 45 percent. Particular support for Merkel comes from followers of the Left Party (83 percent), the Greens (64 percent), and the SPD (57 percent).
Aigner also holds support from 46 percent of Greens and 44 percent of SPD supporters. De Maizière achieved 43 percent in the Greens and 46 percent in the SPD. Klöckner’s suitability scores drop considerably outside the Union. She was viewed as suitable by 38 percent of SPD supporters, 27 percent of Greens, 12 percent of AfD supporters, and 10 percent of Left Party supporters.
