Succession to the Federal President: Omid Nouripour criticizes the behavior of Friedrich Merz

Despite the Union's selection of Ilse Aigner (CSU) as the candidate for the federal presidential election, Friedrich Merz (CDU) remains silent. This is now bringing the Chancellor criticism from the Greens. Merz had “another important personnel procedure slipped through the cracks,” said Bundestag Vice President Omid Nouripour to the “Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger” on Saturday. "He had to be persuaded from several sides to present a candidate who could be widely supported."

According to information from party circles, the decision about Frank-Walter Steinmeier's successor comes down to the Bavarian state parliament president Aigner. The CDU therefore wants to forego nominating its own candidate. Aigner should be proposed as a joint candidate for the coalition parties CDU, CSU and SPD. At the same time, it was emphasized that the decision would only be made officially at the party committee meetings on Monday morning.

Nouripour told the newspaper that he “really appreciates Ilse Aigner.” In his opinion, she would be “a good candidate.” However, his group will only be able to formally discuss any personnel proposal when Merz "finally submits one - and not just lets it be launched in the press."

His party colleague and parliamentary group leader Britta Haßelmann told the dpa news agency: “The unprofessional search by the Union and Merz is unworthy of this office. How can you derail a process like that?”

Criticism also from the CDU

Criticism had previously also been voiced from the CDU itself. "For such a top office, where we have very difficult federal elections ahead of us, to dilettante and delay like this is bitter," said CDU foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter on the ZDF program "Markus Lanz", with a view to Merz and the next federal elections in 2029.

Merz continued to keep a low profile on Friday. "We in the CDU have agreed with the CSU that we will follow a procedure," he said, according to a report in the "Westfalenpost" that evening at a newspaper event in Hagen. "I'm perhaps one of the few to stick to the agreed procedures." But he has decided on a woman.