Ilse Aigner as Federal President: Merz’s weakness also makes pseudo-debates relevant

At the CSU party conference, Ilse Aigner was allowed to stand up and wave to the crowd. After completing this task with flying colors, the President of the Bavarian State Parliament has excellently qualified for the office of Federal President. The demonstrative applause for her did the rest to underline her suitability for the office. The fact that the cheering came from the ranks of the CSU delegates and therefore only represented a small part of the population does not fit into Bavaria's self-image - and should therefore not play a role here.

Ultimately, the election for Federal President is not really about having an honest debate about what significance the formally highest office in the Federal Republic will have in the coming years. The big questions that have been circulating for a long time in connection with Aigner's name have to do with something else: how Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) reacts to the proposal from his sister party.

This question has been subtly influencing every other topic in the government for months. It is almost always said: Is the Chancellor strong enough? In the discussion about the Federal President's office, this was reflected in the smug applause that Merz received at the CSU party conference when he only briefly mentioned Aigner's name. He's in trouble again. Merz is so unpopular within his own ranks that he can no longer demonstrate greatness.

Because even if the Chancellor tried to grant the CSU its candidate and rally the Union parties behind Ilse Aigner - it would be interpreted as weakness for him. The question remains unchanged: Shouldn't the CDU have the right to nominate its own candidate for the office? A positive side effect is that the Chancellor's weakness makes the discussion about the Federal President's office more relevant. But for him in the role that will only be little consolation.