Europe · Monday, 9 November 2026
Merz names Aigner as his party's choice for Germany's first woman president
Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced at a party dinner on Sunday that the CDU will back Bavaria's Ilse Aigner for president, ending months of deadlock with coalition partner CSU. The nomination needs confirmation today at a CDU-CSU meeting; the Federal Convention elects Steinmeier's successor on 30 January.