Ilse Aigner, candidate for CDU and CSU for the office of Federal President, met on 10 November 2026 in the Bundestag the parliamentary groups of the CDU/CSU alliance, SPD and Bündnis 90/Die Grünen According to consistent accounts from Aigner’s circle and the parliamentary groups, no meetings took place with either the AfD or The Left No meetings took place.
Aigner’s chief of staff cited sharp remarks from the AfD leadership immediately after her nomination as the reason for declining to meet the AfD. Representatives of the AfD group criticised the cancellation and accused Aigner of partisan manoeuvring. The Left group said that the candidate had not invited it to a meeting. The CDU and CSU described the approach as defensible, saying there was no obligation to visit every parliamentary group in person.
The schedule of visits contrasts with Aigner’s stated ambition to overcome divisions as a potential head of state. Commentators described it as a weak start, since it conflicts with the non-partisan ethos of the office of Federal President. Supporters, by contrast, point to the political tensions surrounding the AfD and note that there is no legal obligation to hold talks with every parliamentary group.
Formally, the Federal Convention decides who fills the office. In the run-up to the election, meetings with parliamentary groups in the Reichstag Building serve to assess the political landscape and garner support. Aigner must now decide how to respond to the AfD’s open criticism and the lack of contact with The Left, and whether to hold further talks with other groups.
Regardless of the debate over meetings, those involved stress that the expectations of the office are clearly defined: the Federal President represents the constitution, fosters unity and sends signals on fundamental social issues. Whether Aigner comes closer to meeting these expectations as her candidacy progresses is a matter of political judgement. On election day, what will matter is how many members of the Bundestag and state parliaments in the Federal Convention vote for her.
The events of 10 November 2026 are the immediate cause of the dispute. They are documented in statements from the parliamentary groups concerned and Aigner’s team; interpretations of the meetings that did not take place vary according to political affiliation.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).