Federal presidential election: The “neighbor next door” - visit to Aigner’s hometown

Feldkirchen-Westerham. There is a light fog over Feldkirchen-Westerham this morning, and bag after bag of bread rolls over the counter in the Kuhn bakery. And there is a big topic of conversation. “Yes, of course I know Ilse Aigner,” says Gerti Bromberger, who has just parked her car in front of the bakery. Feldkirchen-Westerham in the Upper Bavarian district of Rosenheim is the birthplace of Aigner, the future Federal President.

The CSU politician and President of the Bavarian State Parliament still lives in the community of 11,000 people to this day. It is deeply rooted there, as people unanimously report. “This is the right one because she is a lovely, warm woman,” says Bromberger.

On Friday afternoon came the news that people are talking about: There is agreement in the CDU that Aigner should be nominated as a candidate for the office of head of state. The CSU wants her anyway, the coalition partner SPD has signaled support: It is therefore very likely that the 61-year-old will be elected in the Federal Assembly on January 30th as Frank-Walter Steinmeier's successor. As the first woman in this office and the first with a CSU party membership.

Herlinde Weis-Wörndl knows Aigner from the traditional costume club “Mangfalltaler Westerham”. It would be “really great” if a Bavarian became head of state, she said. She describes Aigner as approachable and down-to-earth. “She sits next to you and chats like normal.” It's quite possible that you'll still meet them today while shopping. “Then you meet her like your neighbor next door.”

However, Weis-Wörndl has a little doubt about one thing: "On the other hand, I was wondering whether she would really go to Berlin - because she is so close to her homeland. But I wish her, I hope, that she will." And she hopes "that she is doing well up there. And yes, that she still remains close to her homeland."

The word close to home is mentioned more often these mornings. People in town say that despite her office in the state parliament, Aigner gets involved in the community, takes part in the festivals and, above all, has an open ear for people's concerns.

Andreas Beu also greets the staff while fetching bread rolls. It is very good to have “someone who is close to the people, who understands people, who can also communicate directly with people, who can perhaps also make politics easier for people to understand,” he says. “That’s simply necessary in this day and age.”

Peter Huber, who is sitting with his wife having coffee in the bakery, has lived in Feldkirchen-Westerham for more than 30 years. A few months ago he started talking to Aigner here. “A great woman as Federal President,” he says. “I also think it’s right that a woman should become Federal President.” What would he do if he met Aigner again now? “I would give her a hand and say: Aigner, let’s go, become president!”

Aigner has been an honorary citizen of Feldkirchen-Westerham since 2024. The community is also the cradle of her political career: from 1990 to 1998 she was a local councilor there, and from 1990 to 1999 she was a member of the Rosenheim district council. Her parents ran an electrical trade business in town, in which Aigner helped from 1985 to 1988: she is a state-certified electrical engineer.

Even if she could soon move into Bellevue Palace in Berlin, for the people in the town the 61-year-old will probably remain one thing: “Ilse”.