Politics · Germany · 10 hrs ago
Ilse Aigner leads reader poll on Germany’s next president
Germany is due to elect a new federal president on January 30, 2027, when Frank-Walter Steinmeier is to leave the office.
In a t-online reader poll, 59% of 600 participants favored Ilse Aigner, a CSU politician and president of Bavaria’s state parliament.
The poll also put entertainer Hape Kerkeling in second place, with 27% of the votes.
The poll reflects reader preferences, not an official nomination or the result of the election.
The CSU has named Aigner as its preferred candidate, while the CDU has not yet settled on a person; several politicians are being discussed.
The CDU plans to discuss its choice on November 9, and the election will take place in the Federal Convention.
Ilse Aigner leads a t-online reader poll on who should succeed German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Among 600 participants, 59 percent favored Aigner, the CSU politician and president of the Bavarian state parliament.
Entertainer Hape Kerkeling came second with 27 percent.
The poll comes as parties discuss possible candidates ahead of the presidential election scheduled for January 30, 2027.
The CDU has not yet chosen a candidate, while the CSU has backed Aigner.
- Who
- Ilse Aigner leads the poll. Hape Kerkeling is second.
- What
- A t-online reader poll asked who should succeed Frank-Walter Steinmeier as Germany’s president.
- When
- The article was published on October 28, 2026. The election is scheduled for January 30, 2027.
- Where
- Germany.
- Why
- Steinmeier is due to be replaced, and a new president will be elected.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Ilse Aigner attended the CSU party conference.
T-online reported the poll results, with 59 percent of 600 participants favoring Aigner.
The CDU is expected to hold a presidium meeting, but has not yet committed to a candidate.
Steinmeier is scheduled to be replaced and a new president elected.
- Poll leader
- Ilse Aigner
- Aigner’s share
- 59 percent
- Poll participants
- 600
- Second place
- Hape Kerkeling, with 27 percent
- Election date
- January 30, 2027
- CDU meeting
- November 9, 2026
What people are saying
She is down-to-earth, close to the people and, as president of the state parliament and a former federal and state minister, as well as through other political roles, familiar with the political system.
A president outside politics would do the country good.
He gets to the point without being insulting and/or loud. That is exactly what I want from someone in this position.
No more stale, empty speeches that nobody is interested in anyway.