Federal presidential election: CDU agrees: Aigner should become Federal President
The CDU leadership suggests the Bavarian state parliament president that Merz should submit it to the committees on Monday
Quick Look
- The CDU leadership agrees that CSU politician Ilse Aigner should become Federal President.
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz wants to propose it to the CDU leadership committees on Sunday and Monday.
- The Federal Assembly will decide on Steinmeier's successor on January 30th.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The Federal Assembly, consisting of 630 members of the Bundestag and the same number of voters from the states, will decide on the successor to Federal President Steinmeier on January 30th. The Union and SPD have a majority of around 50 votes there.
Berlin. There is agreement in the CDU leadership that the CSU politician and Bavarian state parliament president Ilse Aigner should become federal president. According to information provided by the German Press Agency from several high-ranking sources in the Union, Chancellor Friedrich Merz wants to officially propose it to the CDU leadership bodies on Sunday and Monday.
Several other media also reported on it. However, there was initially no confirmation from Merz himself. “We do not comment on any reports and refer to the committees on Monday,” says those close to him.
CSU boss Markus Söder had already brought Aigner into play in April. Merz didn't comment at all in the candidate debate for a long time, but then decided on a woman on Monday. Over the past two days, CDU state leaders have spoken openly in favor of Aigner. Parliamentary group leader Thorsten Frei also commented positively on her.
The CDU presidium and board are expected to make the formal decision on Monday. Merz meets the members of the executive committee for dinner on Sunday evening.
The Federal Assembly, which includes the 630 members of the Bundestag as many voters from the federal states, will decide on Steinmeier's successor on January 30th. The Union and SPD have a majority of around 50 votes there. SPD parliamentary group leader Matthias Miersch and individual SPD prime ministers have already spoken out in favor of Aigner. It is therefore certain that the 61-year-old will be elected to the head of state.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The CDU presidium and board will make the formal decision on Ilse Aigner's candidacy on Monday.
Very likely · Within days
Ilse Aigner will be elected Federal President by the Federal Assembly on January 30th.
Very likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- When exactly will Chancellor Friedrich Merz publicly comment on his candidacy?
- Will the Federal Assembly actually vote for Ilse Aigner on January 30th?
- Which opposing candidates, if any, could come forward?
