Merz wants to nominate Aigner as German president
The CDU and CSU want to put Ilse Aigner forward with the SPD for the election in January.
There is news on this story (Monday, 9 November 2026, 12:51): SPD backs Aigner as German presidential candidate
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Chancellor Friedrich Merz wants to nominate Bavarian CSU politician Ilse Aigner as successor to President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. This concerns a planned candidacy, not yet an election result.
The CDU and CSU have agreed on Aigner as their candidate, according to ARD and German regional broadcaster MDR. The SPD is also said to support her candidacy. This appears to give her sufficient support for election by the Bundesversammlung, the special electoral college that elects Germany’s president.
The formal decision lies with the CDU board and party presidium. Merz previously said that Germany should have a woman as head of state for the first time, but initially remained non-committal about the candidate’s identity. The CSU had been campaigning for Aigner for some time.
Aigner has been president of the Bavarian parliament since 2018. Before that, she was, among other things, agriculture minister in Angela Merkel’s federal government and a member of the Bundestag. She is regarded as an experienced administrator with a long record within the CSU.
The German president has primarily a representative and constitutional role. The office can nevertheless acquire political significance when a president signs laws, drives social debates or acts as an independent voice vis-à-vis the government and parliament.
The election is scheduled for 30 January 2027. The candidacy is therefore not yet an election result. The Greens and Linke have criticised the way the choice was reached within the governing parties and are calling for a broader, cross-party procedure.
For the Netherlands, the development is particularly relevant because Germany is the EU’s largest member state and most important trading partner. The choice also says something about the balance of power within the German coalition: the CDU formally determines the nomination, while the CSU and Markus Söder have visibly exerted influence.
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One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The CDU and CSU want to nominate Ilse Aigner as successor to Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
- The SPD supports the candidacy, according to party sources.
- The formal decision is expected on Monday.
- The election takes place in the Bundesversammlung.
Left
Arguments An independent candidate with broader public support would better suit an office that is meant to stand above party politics.
Values Social representation, independence and institutional openness.
Consequences A party agreement could weaken confidence in the office, even if Aigner personally receives broad support.
Centre
Arguments Aigner has administrative experience and can act as a compromise figure, while the parliamentary majority provides a clear procedure.
Values Administrative continuity, constitutional rules and practicality.
Consequences A predictable nomination can provide political stability, as long as other parties retain room to express their views substantively.
Right
Arguments The largest political force in the Bundesversammlung may take the initiative and need not keep a viable candidate open indefinitely.
Values Democratic power relations, responsibility and institutional clarity.
Consequences A quick decision prevents prolonged internal conflict, but may draw criticism if the procedure is seen too much as a party deal.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The core is based on reporting by Tagesschau and MDR from 6 and 7 November. The text clearly distinguishes between an announced nomination and the formal election.
- confirmed The CDU and CSU want to nominate Ilse Aigner as president — Tagesschau reports that the Union parties want to nominate Aigner. source
- confirmed The SPD also supports the candidacy — MDR writes that Aigner is to become the joint candidate of the CDU, CSU and SPD. source
- confirmed The election is scheduled for 30 January 2027 — This date appears in reporting by Tagesschau and MDR. source
Editor's note
The candidacy had been agreed by 7 November, according to party sources, but the formal nomination was still scheduled for Monday. The election itself has yet to take place.Sources
The story so far
- Sunday, 8 November 2026, 21:19 Merz wants to nominate Aigner as German president (this article)
- Monday, 9 November 2026, 12:51 SPD backs Aigner as German presidential candidate
More on this in Dutch media
- NOS — „duitsland ilse aigner”
- Het Parool — „duitsland ilse aigner”
- Trouw — „duitsland ilse aigner”