The search for a candidate for Federal President enters a power-political phase

The Greens respond positively to Aigner’s proposal

The Greens’ position is positive. They responded positively to Ilse Aigner’s proposal for the office of Federal President. Based on the facts available, at least one additional party therefore views the proposal in a positive light, which is likely to increase its chances in a cooperative search.

Expectations for the candidate selection are high. In a documented statement by former SPD leader Sigmar Gabriel, it says: “It was more important to us to find a non-partisan and broadly recognized candidate than merely to seek a tactical advantage for the party.” Gabriel thus pointed to a central tension in the current search: the claim of non-partisanship and party tactics.

Non-partisanship meets party tactics

The quotes from the debate make it clear that the candidate search has long since ceased to be treated solely as a matter-of-fact personnel question. While some emphasize a non-partisan and broadly recognized solution, others point to the advantages that individual parties could gain from filling the office.

The role of the CSU is also visible in the discussion. The Bavarian party is mentioned in the reports alongside the CDU, Ilse Aigner, and the names Friedrich Merz and Markus Söder. How the Union will formulate its proposal in detail in November, and which candidacy it intends to pursue, is the central uncertainty in further developments.

Alongside the political camps, officeholders and institutional points of reference are also invoked. These include Horst Köhler, Joachim Gauck, and Ines Claus. These references make it clear that the succession question is not solely about immediate party competition, but also about positioning the significance of the office of Federal President within the political order.

Points of reference for the succession question

The search is therefore in a phase in which an open personnel question can become a concrete power-political constellation. The CDU proposal announced for November is regarded as a signal that is likely to influence the further direction of discussions and the formation of possible alliances.

Until the proposal is submitted, the parties’ election results and the position of other potential supporters remain open factors. The Greens’ positive response to Ilse Aigner’s proposal also shows that support is not restricted to the traditional larger parties, but can also come from the ranks of smaller parties.

The decisive question will therefore be whether it is possible to conduct the candidate search as a procedure for a broadly recognized election, or whether filling the office of Federal President will primarily be used as an instrument for securing a political majority. The signs indicate that both expectations currently coexist.