Chancellor Merz backs Ilse Aigner as Germany's first female President

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has expressed his support for Ilse Aigner, the outspoken Bavarian politician, as his preferred choice for Germany's first female President. Aigner, 61, is expected to be officially endorsed by the Chancellor on Monday, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Merz's endorsement comes after internal party pressure for a candidate within his own CDU party. Initially hesitant, Merz ultimately supported Aigner, a close personal friend and colleague, following a dinner hosted by his party in Berlin. Aigner and Merz often meet in Aigner's constituency in Bavaria, where the Chancellor maintains a holiday home.

Aigner's candidacy has garnered support from across the political spectrum, including conservatives, Social Democrats, and Greens. Her election would be historic, as the CSU, which never had a member serve as Germany's head of state, would have its first female representative.

Aigner's background is notable; she once served as a minister in two cabinets led by Angela Merkel and currently serves as the speaker of the Bavarian state parliament. Her political journey began in the 1990s after she trained as an electrician and worked on developing electrical systems for helicopters.