“Now it’s a bit of a turn” – Söder is sticking to the CSU candidate for the office of Federal President

CSU boss Markus Söder has increased the pressure in the discussion about the candidacy for the Federal President's office. The Bavarian Prime Minister told ARD that the CSU has never nominated the Federal Chancellor or the Federal President in 75 years. “Actually, you can argue that we’re a little bit closer now.”

When asked whether legal training was necessary for the highest state office, Söder said: "The Federal President does not have to be a notary. The Federal President must of course have authority."

It’s not about “postal haggling,” he emphasized. “We have an offer, a personality who is completely undisputed as having the democratic, personal and character suitability for the office.” This suitability is more important than the question of the party.

In the CSU, the Bavarian state parliament president Ilse Aigner has long been considered a possible federal president. Söder declared the 61-year-old his favorite months ago and pleaded for her again in his party conference speech on Friday. The decision will be “made somewhere else,” he said. “That would be a great thing.” Aigner himself has not yet commented personally on the personnel.

In his 50-minute speech at the CSU party conference on Saturday, Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) said not a word about when and how he, the Union and the coalition want to clarify the candidacy for the Federal President's office.

Shortly before the party conference, the CDU leadership tried to slow down the CSU. “The CDU has not given up its claim to nominate a candidate from its ranks,” said party circles.

Merz only greeted Aigner by name at the start of his speech, directly after Söder and before the head of the European People's Party, Manfred Weber. The delegates then burst into applause and cheers and rose from their seats. Aigner, who was sitting in the front row, also stood up and waved with both hands into the exhibition hall in Munich.

Merz greeted Aigner, but also Federal Research Minister Dorothee Bär, with kisses left and right as he entered the hall.