Federal presidential election: Merz breaks his silence and proposes Aigner

The sparrows have been whistling it from the rooftops for days. And leading CDU politicians have already confirmed it: Ilse Aigner should be the candidate for federal president. Merz chose her. And while the sparrows whistle and CDU insiders whisper the name Aigner sometimes more, sometimes less loudly, one person remains silent: Friedrich Merz.

On Friday evening, when the news had already made the rounds, Merz was asked about Aigner at a Westfalenpost reception, but didn't want to say anything about it: "As one of the few: I stick to the agreed procedures."

This time Merz wanted to do everything right

On Sunday evening they sat together in the CDU presidium, as agreed, and spoke out in favor of Ilse Aigner. Merz also confirmed there that he supported Aigner's nomination. Today the Federal Executive Board should follow suit. Merz thought about the important personality for a long time. After the failed cabinet reshuffle in the summer, he wanted to do everything right this time. His job description called for a candidate who would meet with broad approval in the Federal Assembly and among the population.

Why didn't he decide on Ilse Aigner right away? After all, the two know each other well from Tegernsee. Merz has a holiday home there, Ilse Aigner has her constituency. It is possible that he was angry because Markus Söder had rushed forward as CSU leader and proposed Ilse Aigner in April without consulting him. It is conceivable that powerful CDU men pushed for their own candidate to be put forward. Both probably played a role.

Aigner's proposal is a success for Söder

And so nothing happened for a long time. Except that names were traded: Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, Karin Prien, Julia Klöckner and Ines Claus. There has been speculation about almost all of the women who have rank and name in the CDU. Some test balloons burst quickly. Only CSU woman Ilse Aigner remained - and Markus Söder upped the ante at the CSU party conference in October. He would wholeheartedly begrudge Ilse Aigner if she became the next Federal President. That would be a great thing, he shouted to the thunderous applause of the “Aigner fan club” in the exhibition hall in Munich.

Söder can count the fact that Aigner is actually on the verge of becoming Federal President as a success: she is his candidate. His own dreams of the Federal Chancellery are likely to be a thing of the past. Söder's place will remain in Bavaria and Ilse Aigner will most likely move to Bellevue Palace - even if it is just a replacement building at the main train station.

The presidency could suit Aigner

But maybe that's exactly what suits her, the woman who is considered down-to-earth and close to the people. She is committed to democracy and takes a clear stance against extremists. Polarization, she once said, is a business model that creates deep rifts in order to create a different country. "And to be clear: I don't want this other country."

Aigner has been President of the Bavarian State Parliament for eight years. She learned a technical profession and once worked on helicopters. As Federal Minister of Agriculture (2008 to 2013) she left no trace in Berlin and as such remained pale. The presidential aspect may suit her better.

Federal presidential election on January 30th

She will be in office when the next Bundestag is elected. She will be able to appoint chancellors, dissolve the Bundestag or prevent exactly that. But before that happens, it must first be officially proposed by the Union and then elected by the Federal Assembly on January 30th. The first step should be taken at midday - at a press conference in the Konrad-Adenauer-Haus.