Could Karin Prien Be the First Woman to Lead Germany After Merkel's Call and Jewish Students' Support?

From a family whose grandparents fled Nazi persecution and some relatives perished in the Holocaust, to the possibility of reaching the highest office in the German state, the biography of Education Minister Karin Prien encapsulates a striking historical paradox that led the Union of Jewish Students in Germany to nominate her name to succeed President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in 2027.

The union believes that Prien, who belongs to the Christian Democratic Party, combines a family background carrying the memory of Nazi persecution with a clear political stance against the far-right, including the "Alternative for Germany" party.

These considerations led the union's president, Ron Dekel, to describe her as a figure worthy of assuming the presidential office.

In an interview with «Der Spiegel» magazine, Dekel noted that Prien's affiliation with the conservative camp does not prevent her from taking a clear position against the far-right, arguing that Germany needs voices within this camp that reject extremism and defend democratic values.

Prien's family background is strongly present in this proposal; her grandparents fled Nazi Germany, while several of her Jewish relatives were killed during the Holocaust.

The union believes that this family experience gives her a special awareness of the consequences of the far-right coming to power, which adds a dimension to the suggestion of her name that goes beyond partisan calculations.

Prien was born in Amsterdam in 1965 and comes from a family with Jewish roots.

Since 2018, she has chaired the Jewish Forum within the Christian Democratic Party, and became deputy chair of the party, before taking on the portfolio of Education, Family, Seniors, Women, and Youth in Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government in 2025.

The nomination of her name comes as the second and final term of Steinmeier approaches its end in 2027.

The Federal Assembly is scheduled to elect his successor on January 30 of that year, amid discussions within parties about the person who will assume the office.

Other names are being mentioned in this context, including Bavarian State Parliament President Ilse Aigner and Federal Parliament President Julia Klöckner.

But the support of the Union of Jewish Students for Prien also opens the discussion to the significance of choosing a figure whose family carries the memory of Nazi persecution to represent the German state at its highest levels.

However, the union's position does not constitute an official nomination, nor does it mean that Prien has entered the presidential race by decision of her party; the final choice remains with the Federal Assembly, which includes members of the German parliament and an equal number of representatives from the states.

In a related context, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for a woman to take the position of President of Germany to succeed Steinmeier.

Merkel stated, in an interview with «Magenta TV» broadcast last Friday, that "the history of the Federal Republic of Germany extends over 77 years, and no woman has held the position of President throughout this period."

The politician belonging to the Christian Democratic Party said that everyone should ask themselves: "Hasn't the time come for this now?"

Merkel emphasized, saying: "I know women who already exist, and they are capable of holding this office," but she refused to mention any names, according to «German Press Agency».

On January 30 (January), the Federal Assembly will elect the next President of the State, a special and temporary constitutional body formed exclusively for the purpose of electing the President every five years.