Markus Söder, the Bavarian Minister-President and CSU leader, has reaffirmed his party’s desire to put Ilse Aigner forward in the race for Federal President. Speaking in the ARD-Hauptstadtstudio report on the CSU party conference, Söder stated that, citing a lack of representation in the past, “The CSU has not placed a candidate for Federal Chancellor or Federal President in 75 years. In fact, one could argue that we are due for a turn.”
While acknowledging that the CDU has expressed support for a woman, Söder noted that no candidate has officially been proposed by the party yet. He added that he had not heard any other names being discussed.
When asked whether a legal education is a prerequisite for the highest state office, Söder clarified that the Federal President does not need to be a notary. “The Federal President or President must, of course, possess authority,” he explained. He stressed the importance of upholding the dignity of the office, stating that “this is not about job seeking.” Söder asserted that they had a candidate who was “completely indisputable regarding the democratic, personal, and character suitability for the office.”
For Söder, this personal suitability is more decisive than party membership. He clarified that the determination of who will succeed Federal President Steinmeier is not the sole prerogative of the CDU or the CSU. Instead, the decision requires a joint consensus among the Union parties and the SPD, which Söder stated ideally needs to happen before November.
