Ilse Aigner Nominated as Germany’s First Female President

Key points

• Ilse Aigner, a 61-year-old politician from the Christian Social Union (CSU), has been nominated by Chancellor Friedrich Merz to serve as Germany’s next president.
• The nomination was officially backed by leaders of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the center-left Social Democrats (SPD), ensuring a majority in the Federal Convention that will elect the president on January 30, 2027.
• Aigner, currently the speaker of the Bavarian state legislature, previously served as Germany’s agriculture minister under Angela Merkel from 2008 to 2013 and later held roles as economy and transport minister in Bavaria.
• Merz highlighted Aigner’s background as an electrical engineer, noting it would be a first for a German president and reflects the reality of manual workers in the country.
• The opposition Greens have expressed positive support for Aigner, while the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) criticized her nomination, with co-leader Alice Weidel arguing she has not set aside her party-politician role.
• Aigner described her candidacy as a signal against populist and extremist forces, aiming to represent a 'strong center' and overcome political divisions in Germany.

Background

Germany has had 12 presidents since 1949, all of whom have been men, despite women holding other top positions such as chancellor and speaker of the lower house. Angela Merkel was the first female chancellor, serving from 2005 to 2021. The current political landscape is marked by rising support for the far-right AfD, which has complicated government formation. Previous coverage noted that Aigner’s candidacy had been pushed by the conservative bloc for some time, with strained relations between the CDU and CSU over the selection process. The Federal Convention, comprising 630 members of the national parliament and an equal number of state delegates, will vote on January 30, 2027, to succeed Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who is constitutionally barred from a third term.

Why it matters

The election of Ilse Aigner as Germany’s first female president marks a historic shift in the country’s political leadership, breaking a 77-year male monopoly on the office. Her broad support across the political spectrum, including from the opposition Greens, suggests a potential for unification in a polarized environment. Additionally, her background as an engineer and her stance against extremism may influence her approach to the largely ceremonial but crisis-relevant role of the president, particularly in navigating the challenges posed by the rising far-right AfD.

What to watch

The Federal Convention will vote on January 30, 2027, to officially elect Ilse Aigner as Germany’s next president. The AfD has indicated it will field its own candidate, though Aigner is considered all but assured of election due to the governing coalition’s majority. Her inauguration will mark the end of Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s second term and the beginning of a new era in German presidential history.