Spiegel reported on Merz's plans to nominate von der Leyen for the post of president of Germany

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is exploring the possibility of nominating European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as President of Germany in 2027. This was reported by the newspaper Spiegel on August 25.

"Information has recently appeared in government circles that the leader of the (Christian Democratic Union of Germany. The CDU is considering a completely different name: Ursula von der Leyen," the publication says.

According to the newspaper, she was re-elected at the end of 2024, so in the federal presidential elections in February 2027, the diplomat will lose more than half of her term, but Germany will take the most important place in Brussels.

The newspaper added that several conditions make this idea attractive. In particular, von der Leyen will once again be able to become the "first of its kind": the first female Minister of Defense, the first female head of the European Commission and the first female president of Germany.

In addition, such a step would allow the CDU to go down in history as the party that would "give" the country the first female chancellor and the first female president.

It is noted that the head of the EC does not "radiate special warmth," but she has the intellectual insight and presidential dignity required in this position. The newspaper stressed that von der Leyen's possible appointment would be the end of her political career, after two possible terms, the diplomat would be 77 years old.

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The day before, The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported that Merz, speaking at a regional conference of the party, said that Germany could no longer afford the existing welfare system. According to him, spending on social programs is "out of control" and endangers the stability of the budget, adding that with a slowing economy and rising unemployment, spending on pensions and social benefits continues to grow.

At the same time, on August 2, the Bild newspaper, citing survey data, reported that more than half of German residents were dissatisfied with Ursula von der Leyen's activities. Also, 66% of German residents said that the trade agreement with the United States harms the German economy.

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