# Merz's conservatives to nominate Germany's first woman president

> Ilse Aigner, a Bavarian politician and former agriculture minister, is set to become Germany's first female president after backing from both major parties.
- Title: Merz's conservatives to nominate Germany's first woman…
- Summary: Ilse Aigner, a Bavarian politician and former agriculture minister, is set to become Germany's first female president after backing from both major parties.
- Keywords: ilse aigner, friedrich merz, cdu, csu, spd, german presidency, bavaria, germany, POLITICO
- Source: POLITICO — https://politico.eu/article/merz-conservatives-poised-nominate-ilse-aigner-first-woman-president-germany
- Published: 2026-11-06T20:02:13+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: ilse aigner, friedrich merz, cdu, csu, spd, german presidency, bavaria, germany, politics, world
## Aigner set to make history
Bavarian politician Ilse Aigner will become Germany's first woman president, according to two senior conservatives. Chancellor Friedrich Merz's CDU and the SPD will nominate her to succeed Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
## Aigner's background and role
Aigner previously served as agriculture minister under Angela Merkel from two thousand eight to two thousand thirteen.
## Election scheduled for January thirty
Steinmeier's second five-year term ends in March two thousand twenty-seven. He is not eligible for re-election. His successor will be elected on January thirty, two thousand twenty-seven. The German presidency is largely ceremonial.
## Key takeaway

Ilse Aigner will be nominated as Germany's next president, becoming the country's first woman in the role, with support from Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservatives and the Social Democrats.