The AfD apparently intends to nominate former national player Thomas Berthold as a candidate for the office of Federal President. This is reported by Bild. An official consultation and decision on this issue is expected only on Saturday at a conference of the federal board with the state chairmen.
Before this, the Union had nominated Ilse Aigner, the Bavarian State Parliament President (CSU), for the office. The SPD and the Grünen also support Aigner, meaning she can expect a clear majority in the Federal Convention at the election on January 30, 2027.
SPD politician Ralf Stegner criticized the presumed AfD counter-candidate. He remarked in the Rheinische Post (Saturday edition) that the idea of allowing oneself to be nominated as a presidential candidate by a right-radical party is only achievable if one has done too many headball exercises with a medicine ball. Nonetheless, Stegner continued that it is great when outstanding athletes take on social responsibility or engage in volunteer work after their active career.
