(de-news.net) – Support for Bavarian State Parliament President Ilse Aigner (CSU) as a potential successor to German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is growing within the CDU/CSU alliance and beyond, with conservative state leaders and SPD representatives citing her political experience and ability to unite society. Although CDU and CSU leaders are preparing a joint nomination, no official candidate has been announced, and alternatives including Julia Klöckner and Ines Claus remain under consideration ahead of the Federal Convention’s election on 30 January 2027.

CDU/CSU parliamentary group leader Thorsten Frei has described Aigner as an outstanding candidate, pointing to her decades of experience in Bavarian and federal politics. He expects CSU Chairman Markus Söder and CDU Chairman and Chancellor Friedrich Merz to present a joint nomination within days. Frei also anticipates that their decision could attract support beyond the conservative alliance and its governing coalition with the SPD, potentially securing broader acceptance across Germany. At the same time, he emphasized that several other highly qualified women could also assume the responsibilities of the Presidency.

CDU considers Presidential succession

CDU Secretary-General Franziska Hoppermann has confirmed that the next Federal President will come from either the CDU or CSU, with the selection representing a joint proposal by Merz and Söder. Although she has not ruled out Aigner, Hoppermann stressed that several women within the conservative alliance meet the requirements for the office. In her view, the Presidency calls for a combination of political experience, personal warmth, accessibility and a grounded approach to public engagement. These qualities are particularly relevant, she argued, amid Germany’s increasingly polarized social environment.

Hoppermann expects the relevant party leadership bodies to select a candidate in early November, following consultations between the CDU and CSU. She also defended Merz’s decision to support a female President, noting that such a choice would reflect expectations expressed by members of the public and within political parties. Nevertheless, she maintained that the selection process should focus on the candidate’s qualifications rather than gender alone. The debate, in her view, should therefore address the personal and political requirements of the office alongside the question of representation.

Support has also emerged among prominent CDU politicians at the state level. Manuel Hagel, chairman of the CDU in Baden-Württemberg, has explicitly endorsed Aigner, highlighting her political experience, public standing, personal accessibility and ability to bring people together. The three eastern German states governed by the CDU have likewise expressed support for the CSU politician. Sven Schulze, acting Minister-President of Saxony-Anhalt, has joined Saxony’s Michael Kretschmer and Thuringia’s Mario Voigt in backing Aigner, describing her as a suitable candidate. Kretschmer has reaffirmed his support, while Voigt has drawn on more than two decades of professional collaboration with her to emphasize her political background, approachability and capacity to unite society. He also considers her personal career development an example that could resonate with the country.

Support for Aigner extends beyond the CDU and CSU

Former SPD Chairwoman Saskia Esken has likewise supported the election of a woman to the Presidency for the first time. She argued that previous Presidential selections had effectively favored men, despite repeated assertions that professional qualifications rather than gender should determine the choice. Esken also expressed reservations about Söder’s early promotion of Aigner, questioning whether the initiative might partly have been intended to prevent another woman from emerging as a candidate. She declined to propose an alternative, maintaining that responsibility for putting forward a nominee rested with the Union.

The endorsements are not confined to the conservative parties. Brandenburg Minister-President Dietmar Woidke (SPD) has also expressed support for Aigner, citing her familiarity with German politics, accessibility and willingness to listen. He indicated that he would welcome her nomination. His position adds a significant cross-party dimension to the growing political support for the Bavarian Parliamentary President.

Within the CSU, Secretary-General Martin Huber considers Aigner well positioned to obtain a strong result in the first round of voting. He argued that the favorable response to her potential candidacy demonstrated broad acceptance and could reinforce the democratic center. The CSU remains committed to her candidacy, which party leader Söder first proposed in April. The continuing support from the party leadership reflects its preference for Aigner as the conservative alliance’s nominee.

CDU Party leadership prepares to decide

Other potential candidates have also emerged as discussions continue. CDU parliamentarian Christina Stumpp has proposed Bundestag President Julia Klöckner as a possible successor to Steinmeier, arguing that Germany needs a head of state capable of defending democracy and maintaining social cohesion. Stumpp considers both Klöckner and Aigner suitable for the position, citing their accessibility, grounded political approach and clearly expressed convictions. An unnamed member of the CDU/CSU parliamentary leadership has also advocated Klöckner, arguing that the country’s highest constitutional office requires a more clearly defined political profile. Ines Claus, leader of the Hessian CDU parliamentary group, is another potential candidate.

Merz is scheduled to discuss the Presidential succession with the CDU Presidium on Sunday evening, with further consultations involving the party’s executive leadership planned for Monday. These meetings are expected to advance the process of identifying a joint candidate with the CSU. Although the CSU continues to favor Aigner, a compromise involving a CDU candidate remains possible. Merz has indicated that he wants a woman from the political center to assume the Presidency but has not publicly identified his preferred candidate.

The Federal Convention is scheduled to elect Steinmeier’s successor on January 30, 2027. The CDU/CSU alliance is expected to have the largest representation in the assembly and could secure a majority together with the SPD. Under the applicable procedure, any member of the Federal Convention may formally submit a Presidential nomination. However, despite the growing number of endorsements and the emergence of alternative names, the conservative parties have yet to announce an official candidate.