Merz claims CDU right to pick next president
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Discussions are intensifying over who will succeed Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, whose second term is nearing its end. Chancellor Friedrich Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has weighed in on potential candidates, while the Christian Social Union (CSU) is openly advocating for Ilse Aigner, President of the Bavarian Landtag, to become the next head of state. This has reportedly caused irritation among the Greens, with some criticizing proposed candidates.
In other political developments, the CDU and CSU parliamentary groups are threatening legal action against the states of Berlin and Saxony-Anhalt, asserting their commitment to defending the German Basic Law. Meanwhile, Anke Rehlinger, the Minister-President of Saarland, has highlighted the significant challenges involved in forming an alliance with the Left party.
Economically, Deutsche Bank has reported profits that surpassed expectations. The Federal Minister for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Carsten Schneider, has criticized an Audi executive, stating they are 'betting on a dead horse.' A new report also indicates an increase in women on German corporate boards, though the automotive industry is lagging behind.