Merz names Ilse Aigner as CDU candidate for German president

The short version

• Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced Sunday he would nominate Ilse Aigner for president, and the CDU named her as its candidate on Monday.[Al Jazeera · Deutsche Welle]
• Aigner, 61, is speaker of the Bavarian state parliament and belongs to the Christian Social Union (CSU).[Al Jazeera · Deutsche Welle]
• The Federal Convention votes January 30 to succeed Frank-Walter Steinmeier, whose two-term limit ends in March 2027.[Al Jazeera]
• Her election is not yet decided, and reporting says the CDU had earlier held back from endorsing her, straining ties with the CSU.[Al Jazeera]

Key facts

• Merz announced plans to nominate Aigner for Germany's presidency at a CDU dinner on Sunday.[Al Jazeera]
• The CDU named Aigner as its presidential candidate on Monday.[Deutsche Welle]
• Aigner is 61 and serves as speaker of the Bavarian state parliament.[Al Jazeera · Deutsche Welle]
• The Federal Convention will decide Steinmeier's successor on January 30.[Al Jazeera]
• Steinmeier took office in 2017 and will reach the limit of two five-year terms in March 2027.[Al Jazeera]
• The CSU put forward Aigner's name earlier this year, but the CDU held back from endorsing her while Merz considered alternatives.[Al Jazeera]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• Chancellor Merz to nominate Aigner as Germany’s first woman presidentAl Jazeera
• Germany: CDU names Ilse Aigner as candidate for presidentDeutsche Welle
• Ilse Aigner tipped by party allies as next German presidentDeutsche Welle
• Germany set to get its first female president as governing parties unite around ex-ministerAssociated Press