Overview
- Merkel made the remarks Thursday evening at a Stern event in Berlin tied to the presentation of her book "Freiheit."
- She said the equality guarantee in Article 3 of the Basic Law will not be fulfilled without formal requirements.
- She argued that assertions about a lack of female candidates fade once roles are made binding and qualified women step forward.
- She cited images of coalition committee meetings and highlighted Bärbel Bas as frequently the only woman at the table.
- She described herself as a feminist in her own way and said a male successor after her chancellorship is not a setback for equality.