Openly Gay Lawmaker Could Succeed Angela Merkel as Germany’s Chancellor

Jens Spahn is in the running to take over Angela Merkel as the new chancellor of Germany, if successful he would become the first openly gay leader of the Christian Democratic Unionparty, Gay Times Magazine reports.

Merkel announced she would be stepping down as chancellor at the next federal election in 2021, after 16 years in the role.

Spahn, 38, currently serves as Minister of Healthin Merkel’s cabinet. He will run against Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer and Friedrich Merzfor leadership of the right-wing party.

Spahn married his husband Daniel Funkein 2017, a few months after the country legalised equal marriage.

Some are sceptical Germany is ready for an openly gay chancellor.

“I don’t think that this conservative party is ready to put forward an openly gay chancellor or party chair,” said Helmut Metzner of the Lesbian and Gay Federation to Reuters.

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