‘The time is ripe’: ex-helicopter engineer poised to be Germany’s first female president
Germany is on the brink of electing its first female president, with the Christian Democrat candidate Ilse Aigner poised to win the largely ceremonial post in January.
Germany has had 12 male presidents since the end of the Second World War, but the federal republic is now on the brink of a historic change.
The lead candidate for the post, Ilse Aigner, is a 61-year-old Bavarian who has been nominated by Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
If elected in January, she will succeed Frank-Walter Steinmeier and become the first woman to hold Germany’s highest state position.
A candidate with a unique profile
Aigner’s candidacy is unusual, as she lacks the traditional prerequisites for the office. She has no law degree and is unmarried.
Instead, she holds a vocational qualification as an electrical engineer with a speciality in manufacturing helicopters.
“No law degree. No marriage. No penis,” is how the left-leaning Taz newspaper put it this week – a wry, if blunt, assessment of what a break with history the 61-year-old Bavarian represents.
A candidate for the times
Merz put Aigner forward as his candidate this week, saying it was “high time” a woman took up the role.
She has the backing not only of Merz’s CDU but also of his Social Democrat partners and the opposition Greens, making her victory a near certainty.
Her candidacy is seen as a chance for Merz to shed his reputation as a Frauenfeind (misogynist), an image that has been underscored by his leadership style.
“Her approach compensates for what Merz lacks: approachability, popularity, a warmth that can absorb the effects of polarisation.”
A symbol of unity and resilience
Aigner has spoken openly about surviving two serious tumour diagnoses, which she says have given her perspective as a politician.
“As the first woman in the highest state office, I would stand with my person and my background as a symbol of the promise of upward mobility in our country.”
A polarized nation looks for common ground
The presidency is largely ceremonial, but it is a crucial role in a country deeply divided by ideological rifts and economic tensions.
Aigner’s supporters believe she can draw together a nation where extremists are snapping at the heels of the political centre.
“The time is ripe for a woman. We have such an under-representation of women in society, in politics, in business, and it’s high time a woman held this highest office in the land. I’m very happy about that.”
A historic step forward
The unexpected ripple of enthusiasm for Aigner, dubbed the “Aigner-Welle,” has been felt across the political establishment.
For many, her election would be a symbolic boost, following the departure of Angela Merkel, who was referred to as “Mutti” at home.
Her supporters hope she will prove a capable figure who can unite people in such polarized times.
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