Ilse Aigner Set to Become Germany's First Female President

Germany could be approaching a historic moment in its political landscape, with Ilse Aigner emerging as the leading candidate to become its first female president. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has announced his intention to nominate the 61-year-old Bavarian politician for the country's highest constitutional office. If elected, Aigner would become the first woman to serve as Germany’s head of state since the Federal Republic was established in 1949.

The announcement came during a dinner attended by senior members of Merz’s centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) on Sunday. Aigner belongs to the Christian Social Union (CSU), the CDU’s sister party in Bavaria. The CSU had proposed her candidacy earlier this year, although the CDU had initially delayed its endorsement while Merz considered other potential candidates.

Key Highlights:

• Friedrich Merz backs Ilse Aigner for Germany’s presidency, potentially breaking a 77-year gender barrier
• Aigner currently leads the Bavarian State Parliament and previously served as Agriculture Minister
• Germany’s Federal Convention will elect its next president on 30 January 2027

The nomination is expected to receive formal backing from the CDU and CSU leadership. Support from their governing coalition partner, the Social Democratic Party (SPD), further strengthens Aigner’s prospects. The three parties jointly form Germany’s current governing coalition, and the SPD has repeatedly indicated its support for her candidature.

Aigner has built a political career spanning local, state and federal government. She entered the Bundestag, Germany’s federal parliament, in 1998 after beginning her political journey at the local level. Her experience includes serving as Agriculture Minister under former Chancellor Angela Merkel, giving her exposure to national policymaking and federal administration.

Following her stint in the federal government, Aigner returned to Bavaria, where she took on a prominent legislative leadership position. Since 2018, she has served as President of the Bavarian State Parliament, overseeing parliamentary proceedings and representing the institution. Her political experience and longstanding association with the CSU have established her as a prominent figure within Germany’s conservative political establishment.

Aigner’s potential election would mark a significant milestone for women's representation in German politics. All 12 individuals who have held the federal presidency since 1949 have been men. Although Germany previously had a woman as chancellor, with Angela Merkel serving from 2005 to 2021, its highest constitutional office has remained exclusively male.

Germany’s president is elected by the Federal Convention, a special electoral body comprising all members of the Bundestag and an equal number of delegates selected by the country's 16 state parliaments. The next presidential election is scheduled for 30 January 2027. Given the governing coalition’s parliamentary strength and the support Aigner has received across party lines, she is widely considered the frontrunner.

If elected, she will succeed incumbent President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who assumed office in 2017 and will complete his second and final five-year term in March 2027.

Although Germany’s presidency is largely ceremonial, the position carries considerable constitutional and symbolic importance. The president signs legislation, formally appoints ministers, represents Germany internationally and serves as a non-partisan figure representing national unity. Aigner’s potential appointment would therefore mark more than a leadership transition, signalling a defining moment for women’s representation in German politics.