Ilse Aigner to be nominated as Germany’s first female President

Aigner’s candidacy has been widely anticipated, and her selection marks a historic moment as the first woman and the first CSU politician to hold the highest office in Germany. Markus Söder, leader of the CSU, initially proposed Aigner as a candidate in April, and the party formally backed her during a convention in October. The SPD has also signaled its support.

The Federal Assembly, composed of 630 members of parliament and an equal number of delegates from the states, will elect the successor to Frank-Walter Steinmeier on January 30th. With a combined majority of approximately 50 votes, Union and SPD are expected to secure Aigner’s election.

Chancellor Merz aims to position Aigner as a “candidate of the center,” differentiating her from the political extremes of the AfD and the Left party. The AfD intends to nominate their own candidate, but their chances are considered slim given the existing majority.

Merz and Aigner have been close friends for 25 years, having known each other since 1998. They regularly meet at Merz’s vacation home near Lake Tegern, and share a circle of friends. Aigner is known for her calm demeanor and is respected across party lines.

Aigner served as Minister of Agriculture from 2008 to 2013 before moving to Bavaria, where she held positions as Minister of Economy, Construction and Transport, and ultimately became State Parliament President. She has led the largest CSU regional association, Upper Bavaria, for 15 years.

Should Aigner be elected as expected, she will assume office on March 19th, succeeding Steinmeier, whose term ends on March 18th. Her election would mark the first time a woman has held the position in Germany’s 77-year history, breaking a sequence of twelve male presidents.

On Monday, Aigner is scheduled to attend meetings of the CDU executive and board before jointly addressing the press. She and Merz, along with Söder, will then travel to Munich to participate in a commemorative event marking the 20th anniversary of the Ohel Jakob Synagogue, dedicated on November 9, 2006, the anniversary of the 1938 Pogromnacht.