Federal Republic | Aigner is to become the first female federal president

Photo: dpa/Michael Kappeler Ilse Aigner was presented as the Union's official candidate for the election of Federal President. As Federal President, she wants to promote social cohesion: "I do politics to overcome divides, to bring people together, also to reach those who perhaps have the feeling that they are on the sidelines," said the CSU politician on Monday when she was introduced at the CDU headquarters in Berlin. Broad support for her candidacy would be “an important signal against populist and extremist forces in our country,” said Aigner. Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) had previously announced that the 61-year-old should run for the highest state office.

Aigner described herself as a candidate from the “strong center”. Their stance is directed against any attack on human dignity. She doesn't want to be above the citizens, but rather be part of them. "My language will be clear and understandable," promised the President of the Bavarian State Parliament. Her goal is to renew trust – “with heart and mind”. Above all, she wants to bring decency as a standard into the political debate.

Merz praised Aigner as a politician with “dignity and heart.” She has character, intellect and a special approachability. “In my view, it is high time that a woman holds this highest office for the first time,” said the Chancellor. Society needs a face that can provide orientation and support. Aigner would not only be the first woman in office, but also the first federal president with technical and craft training. She completed training as a radio and television technician and later worked as a systems electrician. She would also be the first CSU politician to hold this office.

Aigner himself admitted that the decision was a long time coming. “The Chancellor made it quite exciting – for me too,” she said. In fact, Merz had left the personnel question open for months. CSU boss Markus Söder had already proposed Aigner as a candidate in April. The Social Democrats signaled their approval early on, while Merz initially referred to an agreed procedure and postponed the decision with a view to the state elections in September.

On Monday, the CDU presidium and board approved the candidacy. The decision was met with long applause. Merz then introduced Aigner to the public together with her. For the Chancellor, the appointment is also an opportunity to end the months-long debate and to pool the support of the governing parties for a common candidate.

In the meantime, other female politicians have also been traded in the CDU. In addition to Bundestag President Julia Klöckner and Education Minister Karin Prien, former CDU chairwoman Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer and CDU politician Ines Claus were considered possible candidates. Merz let the speculation run for a long time, even though he has been friends with Aigner for decades. They had already discussed the issue of candidates in August without the Chancellor making a decision at the time.

The long process met with clear criticism from other parties. SPD politician Ralf Stegner spoke of a sign of “weak leadership,” which is a central problem for the coalition. Merz appears “thanks to Markus Söder to be the driving force behind this selection process.” The Greens also criticized an “unprofessional search”. Parliamentary group leader Britta Haßelmann asked: “How can a process be so stumbling?”

For Söder, the nomination is a political success. He brought Aigner into the game early on and welcomed the decision on Monday as "a good day for democracy and a historic day for the CSU." At the same time, he thanked the CDU for adopting his proposal. With a view to the long search, he said: "After weeks of discussions, let's put it this way: all's well that ends well!"

Aigner was also considered a possible successor to Söder in Bavaria. She has been one of the best-known CSU politicians for years and has led the Bavarian state parliament since 2018. However, she never appeared offensively as a possible competitor for power in the party. With her move to the highest state office, a potential competitor for Söder would be removed from state politics. At the same time, a CSU candidate for the Federal President's office is likely to stand in the way of Söder's own ambitions to run for chancellor: The CSU can hardly nominate the head of state and the candidate for chancellor at the same time.

The SPD and the Greens also signaled support. The SPD executive committee described Aigner as an experienced and down-to-earth politician who could bring people together across party and social boundaries. The Green leadership recommended that their parliamentary group and the party branches elect Aigner. You don't have to share all of the CSU's positions in order to recognize their suitability for the office. After 77 years of the Federal Republic, it is time for a woman to take over the office for the first time. The Greens expect Aigner to stand up for democracy in a non-partisan manner. Party leader Brantner hopes that she will build bridges and bring people together.

Aigner has been a CSU member since 1985. After working in local politics, she entered the Bavarian state parliament in 1994 and the Bundestag in 1998. From 2008 to 2013 she was Federal Minister for Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection, after which she took on various ministerial positions in Bavaria. She has been at the head of the state parliament since 2018. In the CSU she is seen as balancing, rather than as a classic power politician.

The Left still wants to make its own proposal. Party leader Luigi Pantisano announced on Monday in Berlin that the party committees would initially discuss the matter in the coming days. “There’s still a bit of time until Christmas,” he said. Aigner's nomination makes his own proposal "now absolutely necessary."

Pantisano criticized the fact that the decision was negotiated between the Union and the SPD. He would have liked "that the typical, usual party haggling didn't take place." This would turn the office into a “party political challenge cup” and make it smaller than it should be. A non-partisan person would be good for the country - Aigner would "probably produce the opposite." Left leader Ines Schwerdtner had previously criticized the Union and SPD for making decisions over the heads of the population.

At the last Federal Assembly, Die Linke nominated the independent social doctor Gerhard Trabert. This time too, the party's main aim is to set political accents with its own candidacy. Given the majority, she doesn't have a realistic chance of taking office.

The Federal Assembly consists of 1,260 members, half of which are Bundestag members and half state representatives. The Union and the SPD together have a narrow majority. With the support of the Greens, Aigner's election would be likely in the first round. The Federal Assembly is scheduled to meet on January 30, 2027. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier's term of office ends on March 18th. With Aigner, a woman could move into Bellevue Palace for the first time. With agencies

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