Alternative for Germany and The Left have sharply criticised the planned nomination of CSUpolitician Ilse Aigner for the office of Federal President. Both opposition parties accuse the CDU/CSU and Social Democrats of failing to respect the non-partisan role of the head of state by agreeing on a party-political appointment.
CDU and the CSU indicated in the first week of November 2026 that they would propose Aigner as a candidate to succeed Frank-Walter Steinmeier . The SPD says it will support the candidacy if the CDU/CSU formally approves it. The Federal Convention is due to meet on 30 November 2026 in Berlin , according to consistent media reports.
Alternative for Germany announced that it might put forward its own candidate. The Left is also calling for a broader-based solution, criticising the preliminary agreement between the CDU/CSU and SPD for depriving the Federal Convention election of its cross-party character. Representatives of both parties say that the head of state must enjoy trust across political divides.
Supporters of the joint position taken by the CDU/CSU and Social Democrats point to Aigner’s experience in government at both federal and state level. The CSU and CDU also stress that having a woman as head of state would send a signal of representation. CDU leader Friedrich Merz called in this context for a stable decision with broad support in the Federal Convention.
The Federal Convention elects the head of state by secret ballot. It consists of the members of the Bundestag and an equal number of representatives from the federal states. A simple majority is formally required. The position taken by smaller parliamentary groups and state representatives is seen as an open factor in the vote at the end of November.
Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s second term ends as scheduled in March 2027. The early election by the Federal Convention in late autumn follows the timetable usually used in the past. In response to criticism from Alternative for Germany and The Left, the CDU/CSU and SPD stress that the nomination is a transparent political proposal to the Federal Convention; the decision rests with the body comprising representatives from the federal and state levels.
Editor: Phillipe Schmidt-Araguin (Article created with AI assistance).