A Minister’s Perspective
Germany’s Federal Research Minister, Dorothee Bär, has declined to join the call from Bundestag President Julia Klöckner, who advocates for the next German head of state to be a woman. Bär, a member of the Christian Social Union, expressed a desire to be surprised by the outcome, stating that the current president has two more years in office and the best candidate, whether male or female, will ultimately win the position.
Bär’s comments were made in response to the frequent practice of nominating a female candidate when it is clear that they will not secure a majority. She believes it is time for women to be considered for all positions, not just as a token gesture. In a humorous aside, she noted that a female president might be elected before the highly anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto VI, a popular video game series.
The mention of GTA VI is a nod to the widespread anticipation and speculation in the gaming community, which has been further fueled by the recent delay of the game’s release to the following year. As the gaming world waits for the next installment, so too do some in the political sphere wait for a female head of state in Germany.