Ursula von der Leyen breaks silence on rumours she wants to become president of Germany

German media have reported that Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, would be a serious candidate for President of Germany in 2027. According to local media, government circles in Germany's capital believe that von der Leyen could succeed Frank-Walter Steinmeier, whose presidential term ends in 2027.

According to German publications Bild and Der Spiegel, speculation about possible contenders is on the rise. Bild wrote that major parties typically agree on a candidate in private, making the presidential election largely predictable. Von der Leyen's taking of the presidential role could extend her political career.

However, a spokesperson for the European Commission leader has addressed the reports.

They told Euronews: "President von der Leyen is fully focused on her duties as president of the European Commission. She is not available for other functions or positions."

Prior to von der Leyen's role as president, she held various positions in the German Government of Angela Merkel between 2005 and 2019.

Merkel, the former German Chancellor, is a member of Germany's ruling Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party and the European People's Party.

Der Spiegel highlighted that the CDU party's leadership considered the European Commission's president a candidate for the German head of state role. She would be the first woman in the country to take that spot, having also been the first woman to lead the Commission in Brussels.

The newspaper added that von der Leyen, who was re-elected Commission president in 2024, would be required to leave her current mandate early if she took on the German presidency role in 2027.

However, Germany would lose a key powerbroker in Brussels if this happened.

Von der Leyen was first elected European Commission President in 2019, and then re-elected last year. In July, she escaped a motion of no confidence by a large majority, initiated by far-right MEPs who wanted to bring her down, mainly because of a lack of transparency in purchasing anti-COVID vaccines.

Experts say the motion strengthened the far-Right and left von der Leyen in a weaker political position.