The nomination
Chancellor Friedrich Merz proposed Ilse Aigner, a politician of the Christian Social Union (CSU) and speaker of the Bavarian state parliament, as the candidate for Germany's next federal president on Monday, 9 November. If elected, she would be the first woman to hold the post. Merz presented her in Berlin after a meeting of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leadership, which Aigner also attended.
Merz argued that the time had come for a woman in the role.
From my point of view, it is high time for a woman to hold this highest office for the first time.
He also cited her background as an electrical engineer, which he said would be a first for a president and would reflect the reality of millions of people in manual work. The office is largely representative, and her predecessor Frank-Walter Steinmeier is constitutionally barred from seeking a third five-year term.
Who Aigner is
Aigner, 61, has been active in politics since her late teens and entered the Bavarian state legislature in 1994. She served as Germany's agriculture minister from 2008 to 2013 under Angela Merkel, then as Bavaria's economy and transport minister before becoming speaker of the Bavarian legislature eight years ago. AP describes her as having a relatively liberal reputation, pointing to her support in 2019 for Germany's first openly transgender lawmaker.
In explaining her motives, Aigner said:
I am in politics to overcome divisions, bring people together and also reach those who perhaps feel that they stand on the sidelines.
She added that she stands against every attack on human dignity.
Party backing and the vote
Markus Söder, the CSU chairman and Bavarian premier, first raised Aigner's name publicly in April. After the CDU backed the proposal, he thanked the CDU and Merz personally and said it was not a given that a smaller partner's proposal would be adopted. He also thanked SPD leaders Lars Klingbeil and Matthias Miersch for their support. Söder summed up the move in a short statement:
It is a loss for Bavaria, but a gain for Germany.
The governing parties hold a majority in the Federal Assembly, which DPA reporting puts at about 50 votes. AP reports that the Greens have also responded positively, and DPA says a first-ballot win is very likely. The SPD leadership has also endorsed Aigner, according to Europa Press citing DPA.
The Federal Assembly
The president is chosen by a special body that combines the 630 members of the Bundestag with an equal number of delegates from Germany's 16 state parliaments, 1260 electors in total. Delegate numbers depend on population, with North Rhine-Westphalia sending 134 and Bremen five. Berliner Zeitung notes that delegates need not be politicians, and that parties often nominate figures from culture, sport, science and society.
- Söder first publicly raises Aigner's name
- Merz proposes Aigner as candidate for federal president
- Federal Assembly scheduled to elect Steinmeier's successor
Berliner Zeitung reports that delegations from Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saxony were already set in early November, while no reliable lists were yet known for Bavaria, Berlin, Hamburg and several other states.