# Germany news: Friedrich Merz set to confirm presidential nominee

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/germany-news-friedrich-merz-set-to-confirm-presidential-nominee/
- Published: 2026-11-08T09:02:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-08T09:20:38+00:00
- Original publisher: DW (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.dw.com/en/germany-news-friedrich-merz-set-to-confirm-presidential-nominee/live-79883533?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
- Topics: Europe, Government, Politics, World

## Key points

- Merz is expected to back Ilse Aigner for president.
- Aigner could be Germany’s first woman president.
- The Federal Convention votes on 30 January.

## Summary

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is expected to confirm that his Christian Democratic Union (CDU) will join its Bavarian ally, the CSU, in nominating Bavarian parliamentary speaker Ilse Aigner as Germany’s next president. The choice matters because Aigner could become the first woman and the first CSU member to hold the largely ceremonial office.

The CDU executive committee is due to finalise its nomination at a meeting, with the conservative bloc expected to announce its choice on Monday. The Federal Convention will elect a successor to Frank-Walter Steinmeier on 30 January; it consists of all 630 Bundestag members and an equal number of state-parliament electors. Aigner, 61, is reported to have support across the major parties.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.