Germany’s Ruling Parties Back Aigner for Historic Presidency
WHO:
ABC News World - Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s party nominated Ilse Aigner, a center-right politician described as appealing to liberals, for Germany’s presidency.
Al Jazeera - Aigner is a member of the Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU) and speaker of the Bavarian state parliament.
Al Jazeera - Merz leads the Christian Democratic Union (CDU); the governing coalition consists of the CDU, CSU and Social Democratic Party (SPD).
Al Jazeera - Incumbent President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is a Social Democrat.
Al Jazeera - Aigner is 61. She began her political career in local politics and was elected to Germany’s federal parliament in 1998.
NY Post - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz nominated Ilse Aigner for president.
WHAT:
ABC News World - Germany is set to have its first female president, with Aigner nominated to become head of state.
Al Jazeera - Merz announced he would nominate Aigner as Germany’s next president. Her nomination was expected to be confirmed at a CDU-CSU meeting; if confirmed, she would almost certainly be formally elected.
Al Jazeera - Aigner served as agriculture minister under Chancellor Angela Merkel and became speaker of Bavaria’s state parliament.
NY Post - Aigner was poised to become Germany’s first female president after gaining coalition support.
WHERE:
Al Jazeera - Merz made his announcement at a dinner for CDU leaders. Aigner’s state political role is in Bavaria, Germany.
WHEN:
ABC News World - Aigner would become head of state next year.
Al Jazeera - A CDU-CSU meeting to confirm the nomination was scheduled for Monday.
Al Jazeera - The Federal Convention was to choose Steinmeier’s successor on January 30.
NY Post - The parliamentary vote was scheduled for Jan. 30.
Al Jazeera - Steinmeier took office in 2017 and would reach the limit of two five-year terms in March 2027.
Al Jazeera - Aigner became speaker of the Bavarian state parliament in 2018.
WHY:
Al Jazeera - Coalition parties must agree on a common presidential candidate under German political practice.
Al Jazeera - The CSU had proposed Aigner earlier, while the CDU delayed endorsing her as Merz considered alternatives, straining relations between the parties.
HOW:
Al Jazeera - Germany’s president is elected by the Federal Convention, a body convened solely to choose the president.
Al Jazeera - The president’s role is largely ceremonial, including signing legislation into law and formally appointing ministers; the president can also act as a neutral arbiter and symbol of national unity.
(UPDATED November 9, 2026 21:09 UTC)
Chancellor Friedrich Merz nominated Ilse Aigner, who could become Germany’s first female president. Aigner, speaker of Bavaria’s parliament, has support from coalition parties. Germany’s Federal Convention will choose President Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s successor.