Politics · Germany · 14 hrs ago
Ilse Aigner refuses to meet with AfD parliamentary group
Ilse Aigner will not meet with the AfD parliamentary group before Germany’s presidential election.
Aigner is a CSU politician and the candidate put forward by Chancellor Friedrich Merz to succeed President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Her chief of staff said a visit was unnecessary after AfD politician Beatrix von Storch criticized her nomination.
The AfD had asked Aigner to address its lawmakers, saying the party’s size and its voters deserved respect.
Aigner has previously spoken against the AfD, and as president of Bavaria’s state parliament she once took the microphone from an AfD leader after a dispute.
Germany’s Federal Convention is due to elect the president on January 30, with members from the Bundestag and state parliaments taking part.
Steinmeier cannot serve again after two terms, and the AfD and the Left Party plan to nominate their own candidates.
Ilse Aigner will not meet with the AfD parliamentary group before the presidential election.
Her chief of staff said AfD politician Beatrix von Storch’s public criticism of Aigner’s nomination made a visit unnecessary.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz proposed Aigner on Monday as the candidate to succeed President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
The Federal Convention is due to elect the next president on January 30.
AfD leader Alice Weidel had called for Aigner to present herself to the group, citing democratic culture and respect for voters.
- Who
- Ilse Aigner, the CSU candidate for president, and the AfD parliamentary group.
- What
- Aigner will not meet with the group before the election.
- When
- Her chief of staff announced the decision on Monday, November 9, 2026. The election is due on January 30.
- Where
- The AfD parliamentary group in the Bundestag.
- Why
- Aigner’s chief of staff said von Storch’s public criticism of her nomination made a visit unnecessary.
Ilse Aigner and her chief of staff
AfD parliamentary group
Presentation to the group
Ilse Aigner and her chief of staff
Aigner will not meet with the group; her chief of staff said von Storch’s criticism made a visit unnecessary.
AfD parliamentary group
Weidel said Aigner should present herself to the group.
Reasoning
Ilse Aigner and her chief of staff
Markuse said the criticism made a visit unnecessary.
AfD parliamentary group
Weidel said a presentation was a matter of democratic culture and respect for voters.
Alice Weidel called for Aigner to present herself to the AfD parliamentary group.
Friedrich Merz proposed Aigner as the candidate to succeed Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Aigner’s chief of staff said she would not meet with the AfD parliamentary group.
The Federal Convention is due to elect the next president.
- Candidate
- Ilse Aigner, CSU
- Proposed by
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz, CDU
- Election date
- January 30
- Electoral body
- Federal Convention, made up of Bundestag and state parliament representatives
- AfD criticism
- Beatrix von Storch called Aigner’s nomination an “Armutszeugnis” (a damning indictment)
What people are saying
That makes a visit to the AfD parliamentary group unnecessary.
This is a question of democratic culture and respect for voters.
May our democracy stand firm.