Briefing
On 9 November 2026, the Union parties Ilse Aigner named her as their joint candidate for the office of Federal President. The Federal Chancellor and CDUleader Friedrich Merz introduced Aigner after the CDU federal executive committee's decision, describing her as a figure who appealed to the political centre. The successor to Frank-Walter Steinmeier through the Federal Convention on will be elected on 30 January 2027; Steinmeier will leave office after two terms.
Ilse Aigner has been President of the Bavarian State Parliament since 2018 and has extensive experience at federal and state level, including as Federal Minister for Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (2008–2013) and in several Bavarian cabinets. The nomination was made in close coordination between the CDU and CSU; the Bavarian state party immediately voiced its support. Markus Söder welcomed the decision and highlighted Aigner's experience in state politics and parliamentary practice.
Politically, the move is intended to give the Union a joint, government-aligned candidate to put forward to the Federal Convention. Observers note that Aigner's possible move to Berlin would leave a leadership vacancy in the Bavarian State Parliament; succession arrangements within the CSU parliamentary group and possible coordination with coalition partners would then need to be resolved.
Reactions from other parties varied. Representatives of the SPD and the Greens signalled that they were open to internal discussions; the AfD announced that it would consider putting forward its own candidate. No specific rival candidates had been announced by the editorial deadline.
The Federal Convention comprises members of the Bundestag and an equal number of delegates from the state parliaments. An absolute majority is required in the first two rounds of voting; a simple majority is sufficient in the third. Ilse Aigner's nomination now marks the start of the formal phase of the presidential election, bringing together party-political negotiations, state interests and the candidates' public profiles.
Editor: Phillipe Schmidt-Araguin (Article created with AI assistance).