Germany news: President candidate Aigner to meet parties in Bundestag

The presidential candidate put forward by the conservative bloc has said she won't meet with the far-right AfD. Meanwhile, Chancellor Merz is set to host Hungarian Prime Minister Magyar. DW has more.

What you need to know

Ilse Aigner is meeting with parties in the Bundestag after being nominated by Chancellor Friedrich Merz for the presidency

Merz is hosting his Hungarian counterpart Peter Magyar in Berlin

Keep reading for the latest news and analysis from Germany on Tuesday, November 10, 2026:

Wadephul skeptical of Russia ahead of Abu Dhabi talks

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has expressed doubt over Russia's willingness to genuinely enter into negotiation talks to end the war in Ukraine.

"Is Russia truly willing to negotiate?" he asked. Or, "is this just a negotiating charade intended to distract from the fact that Russia intends to continue a brutal war of aggression, particularly against the civilian population?"

His comments come as representatives from Ukraine and Russia began the first round of talks in nine months in Abu Dhabi. US and European representatives will also be present.

Russia "must finally give up its maximum demands," Wadephul added on the sidelines of a G7 foreign ministers meeting.

Aigner to meet with CDU/CSU, Greens and SPD in Bundestag

The top candidate to replace Frank-Walter Steinmeier as Germany's president, Ilse Aigner, is set to visit the Bundestag, where she will meet with the center-right CDU/CSU bloc, the Social Democrats and the Greens.

She has said she will not meet with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) after one of their top members called her nomination a "disgrace." She also has not received an official invitation from the Left party.

Aigner was officially nominated by the CDU/CSU bloc, also known as the Union, on Monday, practically securing her future as German president. She already has support from the SPD and Greens.

The official vote will take place on January 30. The president is chosen by the Bundestag. Despite being the highest political office in the country, it is a largely ceremonial role.

Welcome to our coverage

Guten Tag from a foggy autumnal Bonn.

The main events planned in Germany today include a visit by the top candidate for the German presidency, Ilse Aigner, to the German Bundestag, or parliament, to meet with political parties.

The other is a reception by Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar in Berlin.

These are both happening against the backdrop of the UN's COP climate conference in Turkey and talks between Russian and Ukrainian negotiating teams in Abu Dhabi.