Politics · Germany · 10 hrs ago
Merz faces pressure over Germany’s next presidential candidate
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz returned to Berlin after a week-long trip to Singapore, Japan and South Korea.
He faces a dispute over who should become Germany’s next president.
CSU leader Markus Söder has promoted Ilse Aigner, a Bavarian politician who is also gaining support from the Social Democrats and Greens.
Merz is friends with Aigner but does not want Söder to decide the candidate for him.
Merz has not found a clear alternative from his own CDU party.
He has said the next president should be able to handle a state crisis, such as a parliament being dissolved and a new election called.
The article names two former or current constitutional court leaders as possible examples, but says neither is a woman.
Merz still has to decide whom to back, and no decision is reported.
Friedrich Merz is under pressure to clarify whom he wants to nominate as Germany’s next president.
CSU leader Markus Söder has promoted Bavarian state parliament president Ilse Aigner as a candidate.
The article says Aigner has gained support from representatives of the SPD and Greens.
Merz is reported to resist having Söder impose a candidate on him, but has not made a decision.
Merz said the next president should be able to manage a state crisis, such as the dissolution of parliament and an early election.
- Who
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz is facing pressure over the next presidential candidate. Ilse Aigner has been promoted by CSU leader Markus Söder.
- What
- The parties are weighing candidates for Germany’s next federal president.
- When
- The article was published on 31 October 2026.
- Where
- Berlin, Germany; Merz was returning from a trip to Asia-Pacific.
- Why
- Merz is under pressure to settle the candidacy, while the article says he has no clear candidate of his own and does not want Söder to impose one.
Friedrich Merz
Markus Söder and supporters of Ilse Aigner
Candidate selection
Friedrich Merz
Merz wants to moderate the process and does not want Söder to impose a candidate on him.
Markus Söder and supporters of Ilse Aigner
Söder has promoted Aigner, who the article says is also favoured by representatives of the SPD and Greens.
Söder promoted Aigner as a candidate at a CSU party conference in Munich.
Representatives of the SPD and Greens increasingly backed Aigner, according to the article.
Merz’s aides told journalists that he had not made a decision and wanted to moderate the process.
Merz said the next president should be able to manage a state crisis, such as the dissolution of parliament and an early election.
Merz returned to Berlin from his Asia-Pacific trip.
- Candidate promoted by Söder
- Ilse Aigner
- CSU leader
- Markus Söder
- Chancellor
- Friedrich Merz
- Publication date
- 31 October 2026
- Merz’s trip
- Singapore, Tokyo and Seoul
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