CSU leader Markus Söder has formally backed his party colleague Ilse Aigner’s candidature for the first time, nine months before the election of a new president. The SPD have also expressed their support. The President of the Bavarian State Parliament has remained noncommittal.
The date has been chosen, but the candidates have yet to be decided: on January 30, 2027, the 18th Federal Convention will pick the Federal President.
For months, there have been growing calls for a woman to be elected to the highest position in the nation for the first time, succeeding twelve males. Ilse Aigner (CSU), a name from Bavaria, keeps showing up.
For the first time in an interview, CSU leader Markus Söder has stated his willingness to support the President of the Bavarian State Parliament’s candidature. “If Ilse Aigner wants to run, she has my full sympathy and support,” Söder told the “Münchner Merkur” (external link, perhaps paywalled material). “The CDU/CSU alliance will make a proposal after the summer.”
Previously, when asked about a prospective presidential candidate like Aigner, Söder merely replied that he and CDU chairman Friedrich Merz would decide on one.
Frank-Walter Steinmeier is ineligible to run again after two mandates, hence there will undoubtedly be a new Federal President. According to the Basic Law, the Federal President’s term is five years. Re-election is authorised just once.
Many names are being examined, including Aigner, Karin Prien, former CDU leader Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, Bundestag President Julia Klöckner, and Monika Grütters (all CDU).
Carsten Linnemann, CDU General Secretary, also stated that he was open to considering a candidate outside of politics.
Klaus Holetschek, the Bavarian CSU parliamentary group chairman, had positive words for Aigner: “We have known and appreciated each other for many years, we were already together in the Young Group in the Bundestag in 1998,” he says in answer to a BR question, emphasising “She would be a good president for the people – approachable, down-to-earth, unifying.”
Ronja Endres, the Bavarian SPD leader, hailed Aigner’s dedication to women in politics. “In contrast to Markus Söder’s chaotic political style, I admire Ilse Aigner’s calm, objective, and level-headed leadership as President of the Bavarian State Parliament.” Former Labour Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) stated the “Tagesspiegel” (external link, perhaps paywalled material) that “she is a smart and responsible democrat and would certainly be a suitable candidate for the office of Federal President.” Markus Rinderspacher (SPD), Vice President of the Bavarian State Parliament, said she is successful in “building bridges between political camps and social groups, thereby strengthening cohesion.”
Aigner is being silent. A representative for the 61-year-old told BR this morning: “The President of the State Parliament will continue to refrain from participating in personnel speculation regarding the successor to the Federal President—even if her own name is mentioned.” This is a show of respect for the highest office in the nation and the current Federal President, Steinmeier.
When Aigner and Chancellor Merz attended the CSU district association’s New Year’s reception in Miesbach in January, she reacted to enquiries regarding the possibility of Aigner becoming Federal President by remarking, “There are worse fates.” Being regarded is a praise. She also stated that now was not the time to philosophise about it.
Ilse Aigner has been President of the State Parliament since 2018
Aigner and Söder were elected to the Bavarian State Parliament about 32 years ago. While he remained in Munich, she joined the Bundestag in 1998 and became Federal Minister of Agriculture under Chancellor Angela Merkel in 2008.
In 2013, then-CSU leader Horst Seehofer returned her to Bavaria, where she was appointed Minister of Economic Affairs and Deputy Minister-President.
She was also viewed as a potential successor to Seehofer as leader of the Bavarian government. “If I had pulled out all the stops, it might have worked,” said Aigner to Bild am Sonntag last month. “But at some point I said: ‘No, it’s not worth using every means at my disposal.'” Söder was appointed Minister-President in March 2018.
He first named Aigner as Minister of Transport, then following the 2018 state elections, she was elected President of the Bavarian State Parliament. She has served as the chairman of Upper Bavaria, the largest CSU district organization, for 15 years.
