{
  "id": 19158385,
  "title": "Bundespräsidentenwahl: Uneitel und bürgernah: Aigners Weg nach oben",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/bundesprasidentenwahl-uneitel-und-burgernah-aigners-weg-nach-oben",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-11-09T13:10:35.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/bundespraesidentenwahl-uneitel-und-buergernah-aigners-weg-nach-oben/100268407.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "At a press conference in Berlin, CSU politician Ilse Aigner, who has officially been named the Union's candidate for the Bundespräsidentenamt (Federal President), smiled as she faced Friedrich Merz. \"The Federal Chancellor, of course, has made things rather exciting,\" she said, \"even for me.\" Aigner made it clear why she was standing for the position: she opposes \"extremist and populist forces,\" but also emphasizes her goal to bridge divides and bring people together. She promises to be with the citizens, rather than standing above them. Aigner's approach is seen as approachable, relatable, and communicative, and she is praised across party lines for her neutrality and ability to mediate. As Bavarian Landtagspräsidentin, she demonstrated her ability to function independently of party lines while still showing clear opposition to the AfD. Born and raised in her hometown, Aigner is known for her strong connection to her roots, always staying close to the people, always friendly, and never distant. Politically, she has extensive experience at both federal and state levels, having served as a Bundestag and Landtagsabgeordnete, state minister, Landtagspräsidentin, and CSU leader for Oberbayern for 15 years. As someone who is not a revolutionary, Aigner has not sought power or been a catalyst for change; she has always been content with who she is. Aigner's political career began in local government, where she served as a mayor in her hometown of Feldkirchen-Westerham and served on the Rosenheim district council. She has been a member of the CSU since 1985, serving in the Landtag in 1994 and the Bundestag from 1998 to 2013. She held the position of Federal Ministry of Agriculture under Merkel from 2008 to 2013 before returning to the Landtag and becoming the Wirtschaftsministerin. She later served as Staatsministerin for Wohnen, Bau und Verkehr under Söder before her election as Landtagspräsidentin. Despite her impressive career, Aigner has avoided political ambition and personal publicity. She once said she has no desire to be an \"alpha male\" politician like Merz or Söder and that she is content with herself as she is, without feeling the need to prove herself. In recent years, she has traveled extensively in her professional life, including numerous visits to Ukraine, the United States, and India, as well as recent trips to Sarajevo and Srebrenica. Aigner is set to become the first female and first CSU politician to hold the office of Bundespräsident in January.",
  "summary": "Ilse Aigner soll Bundespräsidentin werden. Über eine ungeplante politische Karriere und wie man es ohne Machtgier bis ganz an die Spitze schaffen kann.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}