Merz at CSU congress: Delegates cheer Aigner as chancellor comes under pressure

Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) is due to speak at the CSU party congress in Munich on Saturday and, according to the German Press Agency dpa, is under pressure to act. On Friday, CSU leader Markus Söder again proposed Bavarian state parliament president Ilse Aigner to succeed Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Delegates cheered loudly as Aigner stood and waved to the hall. Söder said he would wish it for her "von Herzen" (with all his heart), but added: "Die Entscheidung wird woanders gefällt" (The decision will be made elsewhere). According to Tagesspiegel, he urged delegates to repeat their applause for Aigner on Saturday in front of Merz. In the evening, Söder told public broadcaster ARD that the leaders of the CDU, CSU and SPD must make a joint proposal.

Other senior CSU figures are also turning up the pressure. Klaus Holetschek, head of the CSU group in the Bavarian parliament, said: "The window has come to bring about a decision." European People's Party leader Manfred Weber urged: "Please don't lose any time now." Aigner herself stressed: "The party congress will not decide this question." She described the ovation as "a certain confirmation". The Federal Convention will elect the new head of state on January 30, 2027. It is made up of the 630 members of the Bundestag and the same number of delegates from the states.

Merz has not yet committed himself, saying only that the decision will be taken within the coalition. According to dpa, the CDU still intends to make its own proposal; names mentioned include Karin Prien, Julia Klöckner, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer and Boris Rhein. Citing a FAZ report, web.de said Merz could comment on November 9. The AfD rejects Aigner: party co-leader Alice Weidel said in April that she was not electable for her party. Aigner would be the first woman and the first CSU member to serve as head of state.