German Chancellor Friedrich Merz plans to propose Bavarian parliamentary speaker Ilse Aigner for president. Conservative party leaders are due to consider a joint candidate on Monday, ahead of the Federal Convention’s January election. Aigner would become Germany’s first woman president if elected, succeeding Frank-Walter Steinmeier when his term ends in March 2027.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that he intends to nominate Ilse Aigner, speaker of Bavaria’s state parliament, for the federal presidency. He outlined his choice at a dinner with leaders of his Christian Democratic Union on 8 November. The planned nomination is due to go before conservative party leaders on Monday.[1], [2]
Aigner belongs to the Christian Social Union, the Bavarian sister party of Merz’s Christian Democratic Union. Social Democrats have also signalled support. Germany’s Federal Convention, the body convened to elect the president, is scheduled to vote on 30 January. Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s second five-year term ends in March 2027, and he cannot seek a third consecutive term.[1]
Aigner, 61, entered the federal parliament in 1998 and served as agriculture minister under Angela Merkel. She has led Bavaria’s parliament since 2018. The presidency she is seeking has largely representative and constitutional duties, including signing legislation and formally appointing ministers. Day-to-day government policy is directed by the chancellor and cabinet.[1]
