Merz cheered for welcoming Aigner at the CSU party conference

In Munich, the CDU chairman and Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz called on the Union to show maximum unity. “The CDU and CSU must stand closer together than ever,” said Merz at the Christian Social Party conference in Munich. The Union is being fought by “extremists” from the far right and the far left.

The Union does not want and will not leave Germany to these forces. Merz particularly emphasized his relationship with CSU boss Markus Söder. Söder is “the strong voice” for the CSU in Bavaria, but also in the federal government. He also personally has a “good working relationship” with Söder. "We share a deep feeling of responsibility for our country." It is a shared responsibility.

There was great applause for the Chancellor right at the beginning of his speech at the party conference. Immediately after CSU boss Söder, Merz also welcomed Bavaria's state parliament president Ilse Aigner by name - and received cheers from the delegates.

Merz named Aigner, whose party she would like to see as the next Federal President, almost in the same breath 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.

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is leaving office in March after two terms in office. The Federal Assembly will decide on the successor on January 30, 2027. In his party conference speech on Friday, Söder again advocated for Aigner as the next Federal President.

Merz has not yet commented publicly on the question, which is why his speech at the CSU was eagerly awaited.