The CSU politician Ilse Aigner wants to serve as a unifying force in an increasingly divided society if she is elected Germany’s next Federal President. Speaking in Berlin on Monday, Aigner described herself as a candidate representing a “strong political centre”.
She said that her candidacy for the presidency, supported by the CDU, SPD and Greens, was an “important signal against populist and extremist forces”. Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) said Aigner would be a “Federal President with dignity and heart”.
Aigner made the remarks during a press conference with Merz, following her nomination as a joint candidate by the CDU federal executive board and the SPD leadership. Her election by the Federal Convention on 30 January as Germany’s first female Federal President, following twelve male predecessors, is now considered likely.
Aigner announced that, as Federal President, she would actively and visibly engage in current political debates. “My language will be clear and understandable,” she said. She added that the broad support for her candidacy had encouraged her to take this approach. “This support makes me humble, but it also makes me courageous.”
Aigner has served as President of the Bavarian State Parliament since 2018, where she has earned recognition well beyond her own political camp. Her particularly firm approach towards the AfD parliamentary group has been widely regarded as one of her defining characteristics. The 61-year-old made it clear that, as Federal President, she wanted to act as a counterweight to the growing influence of political extremes.
“Our country and our democracy are under attack, from within and from outside,” Aigner said. “Division is being fuelled, and consensus is being held in contempt.” She said she would resolutely oppose this development. “My position is clear and is directed against every attack on human dignity,” she said. “I try to make decency a guiding principle and, in doing so, to restore trust – with both heart and reason.”
Chancellor Friedrich Merz praised Aigner, saying she possessed “the personal qualities, the intellect, the approachability and, yes, also the charm and charisma” required for the role. During their joint appearance, Merz also explained why he supported her candidacy.
“Her clear commitment to the fundamental values of our democracy, her efforts to promote respectful interaction in political discourse and her firm stance against extremism, hatred and social exclusion, regardless of which side they come from, make her a worthy candidate for this high office,” Merz said.
Aigner’s nomination by the leading bodies of the coalition parties brings an end to a lengthy search for a candidate, during which CDU leader Merz faced considerable criticism. For a long time, the Chancellor had avoided committing himself to Aigner, who had already been proposed by CSU leader Markus Söder in April. This left room for a public debate over potential candidates, during which several CDU women were also mentioned as possible contenders.
It was only on Friday that, following an information leak, it became known that Merz would not put forward a candidate of his own party and would instead support Aigner. When she was introduced by Merz, Aigner could not resist making a small dig at the Chancellor.
“The Chancellor certainly made things exciting – including for me over the past few weeks,” she said. “But if this whole drama ultimately means that a broad political centre can really unite behind me, then I am very pleased about that.”
The Greens declared their willingness to support Aigner. “She has our vote of confidence,” Green Party co-leader Franziska Brantner said in Berlin. Brantner said that, as Federal President, Aigner would have to defend democracy. “We are convinced that Ms Aigner can fulfil this role.” SPD General Secretary Tim Klüssendorf also expressed his confidence in Aigner.
“This office will also carry great responsibility in the coming years,” he said in Berlin. “We believe she is capable of taking on this responsibility, and that is why we are very pleased that this proposal has now been put forward.” The AfD and the Left Party, however, intend to nominate their own candidates for the Federal Convention.
The Left Party's co-leader Luigi Pantisano said Germany needed “a person who is above party politics” and who could bring people together. Aigner, he argued, would “probably produce the opposite effect”. According to a spokesperson, the AfD parliamentary group also intends to put forward a rival candidate.
Former Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) described Aigner’s nomination as historic. Unlike previous female candidates, Aigner “has every chance of actually being elected head of state of our country”, Merkel said in a statement.
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