Söder confirms Merz as Chancellor and campaigns for Aigner as Federal President

CSU boss Markus Söder sees Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) firmly in office despite all the turbulence within the Union following the latest election results. “Friedrich Merz is chancellor and will remain chancellor,” said the Bavarian Prime Minister on Bavarian television that evening.

Söder pointed out that, constitutionally speaking, a change of chancellor only occurs under “extreme” conditions. And the CSU leader added: Given the voices in the SPD that perhaps wanted a left-wing coalition, it cannot be ruled out that a change of chancellor would possibly end in a debacle and even in new elections - if there was no majority in the Bundestag. That's why Söder confirmed: "The Chancellor is in office." And he added: “I would like to be Prime Minister in Bavaria.”

Söder is campaigning for Aigner as a candidate for Federal President

On another personnel issue - namely who the parties will nominate to succeed outgoing Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier - Söder is hoping for a decision in a few weeks. He again campaigned for Bavaria's state parliament president Ilse Aigner, who is considered a possible candidate.

“We don’t yet have any real signals from the CDU as to when we can talk. But I understand that now, because now after these shock elections you have to solve the obvious first,” said Söder. “But we will certainly get together in a timely manner, I hope at the end of October, beginning of November at the latest, and hopefully come to a common solution.”

The CDU/CSU and SPD have a majority in the Federal Assembly. “And with our own strength - and we should use that,” warned Söder - and is relying on a decision in favor of a female candidate. “The CDU said a year ago and repeatedly intoned it that it should be a woman. I think there's a lot to be said for that. And we have a very suitable one, namely Ilse Aigner.”

Söder added: “I think a lot of Ilse Aigner, I support her very much. She would be a great Federal President. And if there's any way, I hope it works. She has my full support.”