Thorsten Frei, the CDU parliamentary group leader, has stated that he is not yet prepared to officially endorse the CSU politician Ilse Aigner as the Union’s candidate for the office of Federal President. Speaking to Welt, Frei noted that it is highly beneficial if a candidate has been a politician themselves, thus possessing a thorough understanding of the political processes within the country, though he stressed that a legal background is not absolutely essential.
Frei also stated that he does not rule out considering suitable candidates from recently vacated positions, citing examples like Bundestag President Julia Klöckner or the head of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer. He affirmed that there is nothing inherently against these individuals, though he did not name them specifically. While he was unable to commit to any single candidate, including Education Minister Karin Prien, Frei maintained that the Union possesses several women who are exceptionally well suited for the role.
Addressing past criticisms that he has failed to decisively back a female candidate in the succession discussion for the office, Frei refuted these claims. In a prior interview, he said he had expressed that he does not like the practice of excluding half of the population from the start. However, he clarified that in the same interview, he personally welcomed the idea of a woman serving as Federal President, adding his belief that there are enough qualified women available. He explained his previous stance was merely intended to prevent the discourse from overlooking an entire segment of the population, emphasizing that his personal preference for a woman in office has always been evident, making the current debate “a discussion about the King’s beard.”
Finally, Frei expressed a desire for a swift decision on the matter of the Federal President. While he acknowledged there is no explicit time limit, he believes that respect for the office requires that the debate over who would be a suitable candidate should not drag on for months.
