Merz nominates Ilse Aigner as Germany's first female president candidate

Chancellor Friedrich Merz initially made a commitment about the next German president without naming a candidate. On November 2, ARD Tagesschau reported that he wanted a woman to succeed President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and would propose a candidate from the political centre.

The succession is approaching because Steinmeier's second term is due to end in March 2027, according to Deutsche Welle. Electing a woman would be a first for Germany, but Merz's initial announcement left open who that woman would be.

On November 3, CDU Secretary General Hoppermann said a decision on the presidential candidate would come the following week. Several women remained under consideration, DIE ZEIT reported.

By November 4, support was gathering around Ilse Aigner, the speaker of Bavaria's state parliament and a CSU politician. DER SPIEGEL reported public endorsements from several CDU state premiers. DIE ZEIT also reported favourable assessments from the SPD.

On November 5, Aigner called for the Greens to be more closely involved in the presidential election through the Federal Convention, according to Deutschlandfunk. Her appeal came as endorsements continued to accumulate.

On November 6, DIE ZEIT reported that the internal debate had ended and that the CDU and CSU wanted to nominate Aigner. DIE WELT went further, reporting that the Union and SPD wanted to propose her. The accounts therefore differed on how far agreement extended beyond the conservative parties.

The process also drew criticism. On November 7, DER SPIEGEL reported that Greens politician Omid Nouripour accused Merz of losing control of an important selection process while Aigner attracted broad support.

On November 8, Merz made his position public. ARD Tagesschau reported that he would propose Aigner on Monday, November 9, ending his public silence over the candidate's identity.

Aigner now has Merz's explicit backing, rather than only endorsements from other politicians and reports of an internal agreement. Deutsche Welle reported his announcement that he would nominate her for federal president.

That is not the same as winning the presidency. The latest coverage still describes an upcoming election and says Aigner would be Germany's first woman president if elected, according to The Times of India.

The immediate step is the CDU leadership process. ARD Tagesschau reported that Merz planned to put Aigner forward on November 9; the supplied coverage does not confirm the outcome of that step.

Broader backing also remains important. Aigner's call to involve the Greens, reported by Deutschlandfunk, leaves an open question about how widely her candidacy will be supported beyond the parties already associated with it.