{
  "id": 16902003,
  "title": "Federal Presidential Election: Steinmeier's Succession: Merz Insists on CDU's Right to Propose",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/bundesprasidentenwahl-steinmeier-nachfolge-merz-pocht-auf",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-28T12:59:20.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/bundespraesidentenwahl-steinmeier-nachfolge-merz-pocht-auf-vorschlagsrecht-der-cdu/100265477.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "Kanzler Friedrich Merz has not yet decided on a successor to Frank-Walter Steinmeier, but insists on the CDU's right to make the proposal. This point was emphasized during his Asian tour after reports suggested he favored Ines Claus, the head of the CDU's Hessen faction. Merz has not made a decision or proposed a candidate, but the CDU, as the strongest force in the Bundesversammlung, has a claim to propose a candidate. Several CDU women, including Bundestag President Julia Klöckner, Education Minister Karin Prien, and former party chair Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, have been mentioned as possible candidates. Hesse's Minister-President Boris Rhein and Ines Claus, the head of the CDU's Hessen faction and deputy CDU leader, are also in the running. The decision on the candidate will be made by the Bundesversammlung on January 30th, with the Union and SPD coalition holding around 50 votes. Merz aims to bring a \"well-ordered process\" to the discussion, with the first aim being the CDU's pre-presidential meetings on November 9th. Discussions are also taking place with the CSU and the SPD, as well as the Greens, given the democratic spectrum of the presidential election.",
  "summary": "The CSU is putting pressure on the Chancellor with their desired candidate Aigner for the office of Federal President. Now a new name from the CDU is being discussed. This prompts the Chancellor to make a clarification.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}