Politics · Germany · 3 hrs ago
CSU leaders urge Merz to back Ilse Aigner for president
Senior CSU politicians are urging Chancellor Friedrich Merz to back Ilse Aigner as a candidate for Germany’s presidency.
Aigner is Bavaria’s state parliament president and is being considered as the Union’s candidate to succeed Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
CSU deputy Manfred Weber and parliamentary group leader Klaus Holetschek say a decision should come soon.
They argue Aigner has broad support and would be a strong candidate, and Weber supports nominating a woman for the first time.
Merz is due to speak at the CSU party conference in Munich on Saturday, where delegates are expected to look for a signal about Aigner.
The Federal Assembly is due to elect Steinmeier’s successor on January 30; it includes all 630 Bundestag members and an equal number of representatives from the states.
Leading CSU politicians urged Friedrich Merz to quickly back Ilse Aigner as the Union’s candidate for German president.
Manfred Weber and Klaus Holetschek said Aigner had broad support and was an outstanding choice.
CSU leader Markus Söder also publicly supported Aigner, while the CDU has said it still wants a candidate from its own ranks.
Merz had not publicly announced a choice, and the articles reported he had not yet decided.
The Federal Assembly is due to elect Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s successor on January 30.
- Who
- CSU politicians Manfred Weber, Klaus Holetschek and Markus Söder are backing Ilse Aigner. Friedrich Merz is being urged to decide on the Union’s candidate.
- What
- CSU leaders want Merz to support Aigner for German president.
- When
- The calls were reported on October 23, 2026. The election is scheduled for January 30.
- Where
- The statements were made around the CSU party congress in Munich.
- Why
- CSU politicians cited Aigner’s support and argued for a swift decision; Weber also backed nominating a woman.
CSU leaders backing Ilse Aigner
CDU leadership seeking a candidate from its own ranks
Candidate choice
CSU leaders backing Ilse Aigner
CSU leaders urged Merz to back Aigner.
CDU leadership seeking a candidate from its own ranks
The CDU has said it has not given up its claim to nominate a candidate from its own ranks.
Timing and pressure
CSU leaders backing Ilse Aigner
Weber called for a quick decision and said Merz should take the clear signal of CSU support.
CDU leadership seeking a candidate from its own ranks
The CDU had not publicly announced its choice; the articles do not report a specific response from Merz to the appeal.
Söder first raised Aigner as a possible candidate in an interview with the Münchner Merkur.
CSU politicians Weber and Holetschek called for a quick decision in Aigner’s favour around the CSU party congress.
Merz was due to address the CSU party congress, where Söder said he would again endorse Aigner.
The Federal Assembly is scheduled to elect Steinmeier’s successor.
- Potential candidate
- Ilse Aigner
- CSU advocates
- Manfred Weber and Klaus Holetschek
- CDU leader urged to decide
- Friedrich Merz
- Election date
- January 30
- Federal Assembly membership
- 630 Bundestag members and an equal number of delegates from the states
5 sources
CSU-Parteitag: Führende CSU-Politiker setzen Merz in P-Frage unter Druck
Führende CSU-Politiker setzen Merz in P-Frage unter Druck
Folgt Aigner auf Steinmeier?: CDU will Bundespräsidenten selbst bestimmen - Söder widersetzt sich
Geheimer Machtpoker - Welcher Präsidenten-Kandidat rettet Merz den Job?
Söder und Wüst nehmen Merz in der Bundespräsidentenfrage in die Zange
What people are saying
The time window has come to reach a decision.
From the point of view of being closer to people, Ilse Aigner would be an outstanding candidate.
Please do not lose any time now.
The decision will be made elsewhere, but I would be delighted from the bottom of my heart if Ilse Aigner became the next German president.