Germany news: Parties debate who should succeed President Steinmeier, with several women under discussion

Skip next section What you need to know

What you need to know

• The presidential term ends in January, but parties are already talking about his successor. 
• A YouGov poll finds 74% of Germans unlikely to celebrate Halloween
• Half of 18- to 24-year-olds plan to celebrate, with older people less keen
• Germany is set to elect a successor to Frank-Walter Steinmeier on January 30

Here is a roundup of top stories from and about Germany on Wednesday, October 28, 2026:

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Skip next section Merz eyes fighter jet cooperation with Japan

October 28, 2026

Merz eyes fighter jet cooperation with Japan

Geman Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Germany and Japan would explore jointly developing a fighter jet as they seek closer industrial ties.

"We also want to explore whether cooperation in fighter aircraft construction is possible," Merz said after meeting Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo. Takaichi also backed closer defense cooperation.

Britain invited Germany earlier this month to join the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), following the collapse of the rival German-French-Spanish Future Combat Air System project.

Britain, Japan and Italy are developing a sixth-generation fighter jet under GCAP, aiming to have it operational by 2035.

https://p.dw.com/p/5OluI

Skip next section Ines Claus: a possible Steinmeier successor

October 28, 2026

Ines Claus: a possible Steinmeier successor

Could the name of the next German president be Ines Claus? The discussions around Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s successor, whose term ends next year, have reached the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on his trip across the Indo Pacific.

Steinmeier will have spent two terms in office when he retires next year. And while the president’s role is largely a ceremonial one in Germany, the process of picking a suitable candidate is a highly political affair, happening largely behind closed doors, unlike in many other countries.

That process is now in full swing. There’s largely bipartisan agreement that the next president should be a woman, which would be a first for the country. Chancellor Merz was one of those early on saying he was in favour of a woman taking the job, but had otherwise stayed out of the discussion so far.

That has now changed. The strong positioning by the Bavarian conservatives from the CSU in favor of Ilse Aigner, a former state agriculture minister, taking the job,  seems to have pushed its bigger sister party, the CDU, to find a candidate from their own ranks.

Ines Claus, a lawyer and legal expert, was named by some within the CDU during Merz's Asia trip. It’s unusual for the chancellor to comment on party political discussions while travelling, but his team has now stressed that they are awaiting "an orderly process." In other words, choosing Steinmeier's successor is far from a done deal.

The CDU is reportedly preparing to discuss who they should put forward at their next board meeting on November 9. They will also take into account the wishes of the CSU, the Social Democrats (SPD), and even the Greens, wanting the future head of state to have broad public support.

https://p.dw.com/p/5OlnT

Skip next section How is Germany's president elected?

October 28, 2026

How is Germany's president elected?

Instead, a special Federal Convention brings together Bundestag lawmakers and an equal number of delegates chosen by Germany's 16 state parliaments.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), and their coalition partner, the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), together hold a majority.

That means they could elect a candidate without support from other parties, provided their delegates agree.

Initial talks will involve CDU state leaders and the CSU, with November 9 seen as an important milestone. Discussions will then widen to include the SPD and environmentalist Greens.

https://p.dw.com/p/5OlTf

Skip next section German parties weigh candidates to succeed Steinmeier

October 28, 2026

German parties weigh candidates to succeed Steinmeier

German political parties are weighing who should succeed President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, with Bavarian parliamentary speaker Ilse Aigner attracting support across party lines. 

The presidency is Germany's largely ceremonial head-of-state role, separate from the chancellor, who leads the government. Steinmeier cannot seek a third consecutive term, and his successor will be elected on January 30.

Germany has never before had a woman as federal president.

Aigner belongs to the conservative Christian Social Union (CSU), the Bavarian sister party of Merz's center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU). The CSU leader and Bavarian premier Markus Söder has endorsed her.

She has also drawn backing from politicians outside the conservative bloc, including senior Greens politician and Bundestag deputy speaker Omid Nouripour.

"We need someone in these times who holds the country together," Nouripour said during Steinmeier's state visit to China, arguing that Aigner had the experience and authority required.

Center-left Social Democratic Party politicians have also voiced support.

But Merz's CDU says it should nominate the candidate. Sources close to the chancellor denied reports that he favored Ines Claus, who leads the CDU parliamentary group in the state of Hesse, saying he had "neither made a decision nor put forward a proposal."

https://p.dw.com/p/5OlTg

Skip next section Most Germans plan to sit out Halloween, poll finds

October 28, 2026

Most Germans plan to sit out Halloween, poll finds

Nearly three-quarters of Germans are unlikely to celebrate Halloween, despite its popularity among younger adults, according to a YouGov poll.

Some 74% said they were very or fairly unlikely to take part, whether by dressing up, attending a party, decorating or handing out sweets to children.

By contrast, 23% said they would probably celebrate in some way. That figure rose to 50% among 18- to 24-year-olds, compared with just 11% among those aged 55 and over.

The survey found no difference between respondents in eastern and western Germany.

YouGov surveyed 2,666 adults in Germany on October 27. The poll was described as representative.

Halloween falls on Saturday this year. Its name comes from "All Hallows' Eve," the evening before the Christian feast of All Saints, and its customs spread to the US with European immigrants.

Did you know Halloween has ancient Celtic origins?

https://p.dw.com/p/5OlR6

Skip next section Welcome to our coverage

Published October 28, 2026last updated October 28, 2026

Welcome to our coverage

Guten Tag from the DW newsroom in Bonn.

Halloween might be a big deal in the US, but most Germans aren't planning to join in the spooky celebrations.

A new poll suggests nearly three-quarters of adults in Germany will give the occasion a miss.

Meanwhile, although Germany has never had a woman as federal president, that could be about to change.

Senior politicians are starting to think seriously about who should become the country's next president — and one name is attracting support from several political parties.

Stay with us here for these stories and more of what Germany is talking about today.

https://p.dw.com/p/5OlPc

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