Frank-Walter Steinmeier
Photo: President.az, CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons, cropped)
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- yesterday
Merz commits to a woman as Germany's next federal president, CDU to name a Union candidate
Chancellor Friedrich Merz says Steinmeier's successor must be a woman, and the CDU plans a joint Union candidate. Party bodies could decide in the week of 9 November, ahead of the Federal Assembly vote on 30 January 2027.
- yesterday
China says it is in contact with the US and Russia over a possible Xi, Trump and Putin meeting
Beijing says it is in contact with Washington and Moscow about a possible meeting of the three presidents on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Shenzhen on 18 and 19 November. No trilateral meeting in China has been confirmed yet.
- 2d ago
Merz reportedly to propose a woman to succeed Steinmeier as German president
Chancellor Friedrich Merz reportedly told a closed CDU meeting that Steinmeier's successor must be a woman. The Federal Assembly is set to elect the new president on 30 January 2027, before Steinmeier's second term ends in March.
- 2d ago
Merz backs a woman to succeed Steinmeier; CDU wants Merkel in the presidential vote
Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday, 2 November, that Frank-Walter Steinmeier's successor must be a woman, while the CDU in Schleswig-Holstein put forward Angela Merkel as a delegate for the vote on 30 January 2027.
- 5d ago
Merkel calls for Germany's first female president as Steinmeier's term nears its end
Former German chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday, 30 October, that the time has come for a woman to succeed Frank-Walter Steinmeier, whose second term ends in March 2027. The Federal Convention is set to elect his successor on 30 January 2027.
- 5d ago
Steinmeier urges China to cut its trade deficit with Germany during Beijing visit
During talks with Xi Jinping in Beijing on Friday, 30 October, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier asked China to cut what he called a high trade deficit with Germany. Xi, in turn, urged Germany to keep a pragmatic policy toward China as Beijing seeks to stabilise ties with Europe.
- 5d ago
Merkel calls for a female federal president and criticises CDU economic course
In a MagentaTV interview with Johannes B. Kerner, former chancellor Angela Merkel argued that Germany should elect a woman as federal president. The Bundesversammlung votes on Steinmeier's successor on 30 January.
- 6d ago
Steinmeier urges China to use Russia ties to end Ukraine war during Beijing visit
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier used a speech at Peking University on 29 October to call for fairer trade and for Beijing to press Moscow over its war in Ukraine.
- Oct 28
German president Steinmeier tests Volkswagen EV in Hefei during China state visit
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier opened a six-day state visit to China on Tuesday, 27 October, at a Volkswagen development centre in Hefei. Volkswagen's sales in China fell 31.6% in the first half of 2026.
- Oct 27
Merz insists CDU holds nomination right as Ines Claus is named for Steinmeier successor
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has made no decision on Steinmeier's successor, but his office insists the CDU, as the largest group in the Federal Assembly, holds the nomination right. The vote is set for 30 January 2027.
- Oct 27
Merz pushes EU free trade deal with Pacific bloc on Singapore trip
In Singapore, Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged a large EU trade agreement with the twelve-nation CPTPP, while the city-state named a new orchid after him.
- Oct 25
Steinmeier presents German environmental prize to Verheyen and Vossenkaul in Aachen
In Aachen, Steinmeier urged giving climate protection high priority despite other crises. The 500,000-euro prize is shared equally between Hamburg lawyer Roda Verheyen and engineer Klaus Vossenkaul.
- Oct 23
SPD backs Ilse Aigner for federal president as pressure mounts on Merz
SPD parliamentary group leader Matthias Miersch backed Ilse Aigner on 26 October 2026, while the CDU says it needs more time and a decision is expected in November.
- Oct 13
Steinmeier appoints Alexander Schweitzer labour minister after Bärbel Bas resigns
Frank-Walter Steinmeier handed Alexander Schweitzer his appointment certificate on Tuesday, 13 October, a day after Bärbel Bas stepped down as minister and SPD chair. Chancellor Friedrich Merz wants pension and labour market bills in cabinet quickly, and the succession at the top of the SPD remains open.
- Oct 8
France and Germany say joint MGCS tank project continues after Paris claims Berlin quit
Defence ministers Boris Pistorius and Catherine Vautrin said on Friday that the Main Ground Combat System is not dead, a day after France's chief of defence staff said Germany had decided to quit it.
- Oct 8
Steinmeier visits Paris to reaffirm Franco-German ties following German regional elections
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier met French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace during a three-day state visit, assuring that Germany remains committed to the European Union following domestic electoral gains by the far right.
- Oct 3
AfD reaches 30 percent as Union falls to 18 percent in German Insa poll
An Insa survey gives Alternative for Germany a 12-point lead over CDU/CSU, which dropped to 18 percent as 79 percent of voters expressed dissatisfaction with Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
- Oct 2
Steinmeier intervenes in German coalition standoff over healthcare, pensions, and taxes
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier held crisis calls with Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil and Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt following disputes over social reforms and tax policy.
- Oct 2
Steinmeier warns against political extremism as Germany marks 36 years of unity in Bremen
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier urged the defense of democracy in Bremen as 400,000 people gathered for the central German Unity Day celebrations.
- Oct 1
German Chancellery halts Lars Klingbeil's sugar tax draft after coalition dispute
The German Chancellery has blocked Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil's proposed levy on sugary drinks, extending a week of governing coalition friction that prompted intervention by the federal president.
