Overview
- The Bundestagspräsidentin has convened the Federal Convention for January 30, 2027, in line with constitutional timelines.
- Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s second term ends on March 18, 2027, and he cannot seek a third term.
- The Federal Convention will comprise all Bundestag members and an equal number of delegates chosen by state parliaments, including public figures.
- CDU/CSU and SPD leadership say they will propose a joint candidate only after September Landtag elections to reflect the resulting majority landscape.
- Cross-party voices are urging a female successor, while author and Brandenburg constitutional court judge Juli Zeh said she could imagine the role in the future but not for 2027.