Manfred Weber urges coalition to pick candidate for Germany’s next president within four weeks

# What Weber asked and why it matters Manfred Weber, deputy leader of Bavaria's Christian Social Union (CSU) and head of the European People's Party in Brussels, publicly urged Chancellor Friedrich Merz's governing coalition to agree on a candidate for Germany's next president within four weeks. He set a practical deadline: reach a deal before the CSU party conference in Munich on October 23–24.

# Who Weber backed and who else is mentioned Weber named Ilse Aigner as his preferred candidate. Aigner is president of the Bavarian state parliament and was previously federal agriculture minister. Weber said she has the political experience and ability needed to bring people together.

Other names already being discussed in reports include Education Minister Karin Prien, Bundestag President Julia Klöckner, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Some reports have also suggested Boris Rhein, the state premier of Hesse, is a possible contender.

# How the president is chosen

# Political context Weber's push comes amid a period of political strain for the governing conservatives. He tied the timing for a decision to the CSU conference, signaling a desire to settle the question before intra-party debates intensify at that meeting. Given the largely ceremonial nature of the presidency, coalition unity matters more than raw policy alignment: the office is often used to project national unity and confer legitimacy on the head of state.

# What to watch next

• Whether the CDU and coalition partners respond with a joint candidate within the four-week window Weber requested.
• If Weber's public endorsement for Ilse Aigner prompts other parties or factions to rally around alternative names.
• How discussions about potential female candidates evolve, since Germany has never had a female head of state.

# Bottom line A senior conservative pushed for a fast, coordinated decision on the next president and backed Ilse Aigner. The formal election will be held by a federal convention on January 30, 2027, and the coalition's internal agreement will be decisive because of the expected majority held by the CDU/CSU and Social Democrats.