Merz names Aigner as candidate for German presidency
The Bavarian politician would become the first woman to hold the country's highest ceremonial office if elected in January.
By Vikram Harrison ·
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced on Sunday that he will nominate Ilse Aigner for the presidency.
If the nomination proceeds, Aigner becomes the first woman to serve as the head of state in Germany. Merz made the announcement during a dinner for leaders of his centre-right Christian Democratic Union, or CDU.
Aigner currently serves as the speaker of the Bavarian state parliament. She is a member of the Christian Social Union, or CSU, which acts as the Bavarian sister party to the CDU. The formal confirmation of her nomination is expected at a joint meeting of the CDU and CSU on Monday. Political observers believe her election is nearly certain once this internal agreement is reached.
German political practice requires the governing coalition to agree on a common candidate. The current coalition includes the CDU, the CSU, and the Social Democratic Party, or SPD. The SPD has frequently expressed support for Aigner, indicating she has backing from all coalition partners.
The final decision rests with the Federal Convention, a special assembly convened solely to elect the president. This body will vote on the successor to incumbent Frank-Walter Steinmeier on January 30. Steinmeier, an SPD member, assumed office in 2017 and reaches the constitutional limit of two five-year terms in March 2027.
The presidency is primarily ceremonial, involving signing legislation and appointing ministers. The officeholder also serves as a neutral arbiter above party politics and a symbol of national unity. Relations between the CDU and CSU were strained earlier in the year over the selection process. The CSU put forward Aigner's name, but the CDU held back from formally endorsing her while Merz considered other alternatives.
Born in 1965, Aigner is 61 years old with a long history in public service. She began in local politics before being elected to the federal parliament in 1998. During the tenure of former Chancellor Angela Merkel, Aigner served as the federal minister for agriculture. After leaving that cabinet position, she returned to Bavaria and was elected as speaker of the state parliament in 2018.
The joint meeting of the CDU and CSU on Monday is the next step in the process. Once the coalition parties formally agree on Aigner, the campaign for her election by the Federal Convention will begin, leading up to the vote in late January.
