Ilse Aigner set to be Germany's first woman president

Bavarian politician Ilse Aigner is set to become Germany's next president in 2027 after Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Sunday that he intended to name her for the post.

Merz made the announcement at a dinner for leaders of his centre-right CDU party, confirming information leaked last week by party sources. Aigner, 61, belongs to the CSU, the Bavarian sister party of Merz's CDU.

Her nomination by Merz is expected to virtually guarantee her election on January 30. She would replace outgoing President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, a Social Democrat, who took office in 2017 and will reach the limit of two five-year terms in March 2027.

Germany's presidency is largely ceremonial. The president is meant to stand above day-to-day party politics and represent the country at home and abroad.

Aigner is currently speaker of Bavaria's regional assembly. She served in the national parliament for 15 years and was agriculture and consumer protection minister under former chancellor Angela Merkel.

German political practice is for coalition parties to agree on a common candidate for the presidency. The current ruling coalition is made up of the CDU, the CSU and the Social Democrats.

The SPD has frequently voiced support for Aigner. Dietmar Woidke, a regional SPD leader, told Politico she would be the "perfect candidate" and said she knew German politics well.