Weber is pushing for quick agreement on the candidate for federal president

The deputy CSU chairman Manfred Weber is calling for an agreement between the Union and the SPD on a common candidate for the federal presidential election within the next four weeks. “We don’t need a long struggle now, just a clear signal,” said the chairman of the European People’s Party (EPP) to the German Press Agency. "That's why we should come to an agreement in the coming weeks and create clarity before the CSU party conference at the end of October." The party conference will take place on October 23rd and 24th in Munich.

Weber spoke out in favor of the Bavarian state parliament president Ilse Aigner, who was also brought into play by CSU leader Markus Söder. “Ilse Aigner has exactly the qualities that we now need for the office of Federal President: political experience, a clear stance against enemies of democracy and, above all, the ability to bring people together,” he said. “It can overcome divides, get people out of their corners and bubbles and appeal to all Germans.”

The Federal Assembly, which is made up of the 630 members of the Bundestag and the same number of voters from the states, will decide on the successor to Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on January 30, 2027. According to calculations by experts, the Union and SPD have a majority of around 50 votes.

Weber: Coalition can demonstrate the ability to act

The leaders of the three coalition parties must now agree on a joint proposal. A quick decision would also underline the coalition's ability to act, said CSU Vice President Weber. “The CSU stands united behind Ilse Aigner.”

In addition to the former Federal Minister of Agriculture, the current Education Minister Karin Prien (CDU), the former CDU leader Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, Bundestag President Julia Klöckner (CDU), EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (CDU) and the former Minister of State for Culture Monika Grütters (CDU) are also in discussion. In the almost 80-year history of the Federal Republic, a woman has never been head of state.

The decision on Steinmeier's successor can also have an impact on the debate about a possible successor to Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU). If the Federal President comes from the CSU, the path to the Chancellery would initially be blocked for CSU boss Markus Söder. It is considered impossible for the CSU to occupy both top positions.