Ilse Aigner introduces herself to the Bundestag factions

Report Aigner introduces himself to parliamentary groups Lots of applause, some self-praise - but no questions As of: November 11, 2026 • 2:17 a.m

The future Federal President Ilse Aigner presents herself to the parliamentary groups in the Bundestag in a friendly and non-partisan manner. There are only two parties where she doesn't show up.

There are rarely so many warm words full of thanks and praise at parliamentary group level in the Bundestag. First stop for the Union faction: Ilse Aigner stands in bright pink between five men in dark blue suits. The gentlemen praise the candidate and they praise themselves for her wise decision.

"You will have our full support. You are our candidate, you are our candidate for this important office. I look forward to January 30th."

This is what the Chancellor said. And CSU regional group leader Alexander Hoffmann coins a new term: "That's why I want, I want to say it very clearly, a real Aigner moment for this country." What this means is that the country needs a better mood, more confidence. And the new Federal President should deliver it.

Aigner herself sees her task like this: "I want to work for democracy," she says. "This is really a mission for me. It is under pressure from within and from outside. That's why my way of shaping politics is actually building bridges, overcoming the divides."

But it remains just short statements; questions from journalists are not welcome. The meeting of the Union faction begins.

After being chosen as a candidate for the office of Federal President, she introduced herself to the parliamentary groups in the Bundestag. more

Three quarters of an hour later, SPD parliamentary group leader Matthias Miersch picks up the candidate and leads her into the hall next door. The Social Democrats also greeted them with warm applause: door closed, parliamentary group meeting. Again just short statements, again only friendly words.

“When it came to Ilse Aigner, everyone always said we could support that,” says SPD leader Lars Klingbeil. And slightly self-ironic: "I admit, not all personnel decisions that we have to make in the SPD are as straightforward and simple as was the case here."

And Aigner thanks the SPD; such clear and quick support was not a given for them. And she knows exactly what Social Democrats like to hear. "It's important to me again because, I think, it's also important for the SPD: If there's someone who shows a personified rise, so to speak in his CV, then it's probably me in person."

In the interview, Chancellor Merz emphasizes that Aigner is the right person for the office. more

Here, too, no questions are welcome - for example, why Aigner is only visiting her supporters today, the Union, the SPD and the Greens, but not the Left Party and the AfD. AfD leader Alice Weidel criticized this in the morning, saying that building bridges would look different. According to Weidel, this basically says everything about the topic of non-partisanship. “We apparently cannot expect non-partisanship from Ilse Aigner.”

The left sees it more calmly. The door to their parliamentary group hall is open. If the candidate wants to introduce herself, they are ready to talk.

Instead, Ilse Aigner goes to the Greens. She even has to wait a moment in front of the parliamentary group hall because the federal student council is still a guest. Here too, friendly applause, again no questions.

At the end of the day there was a photo together: Ilse Aigner with the party leaders of the Union, SPD and Greens. She is not the only woman in this picture.

This topic in the program: tagesschau.de | Ilse Aigner introduces herself to the Bundestag factions | 11/10/2026 | 9:02 p.m