A national role, with a local cost
The CDU/CSU Union has nominated Aigner, president of the Bavarian State Parliament, to succeed Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. If elected, she would be Germany's first female head of state and the first politician from the CSU to hold the office.
Zistl, an independent, told the German Press Agency, dpa, that he was pleased she was willing to run. But he expected a move to reduce her presence in Feldkirchen-Westerham: commuting would be more difficult than her current trips to Munich.
The 43-year-old mayor, who has led the Upper Bavarian municipality of about 11,000 residents for three years, said Aigner's value extended across the constituency. She brings people from different backgrounds together and helps secure information and government contacts when needed. He said he could reach her easily by cell phone and could rely on her to follow through.
For Zistl, her approachability matters just as much. He described her as remaining the same Ilse, seemingly on first-name terms with everyone in the municipality and constituency. Her enjoyment of meeting people was genuine, he said, rather than a performance. He expected some of those benefits for the community to diminish or disappear if she became president.
He expressed no doubts about her ability to do the job, pointing to the firm command she exercises over proceedings in the Bavarian State Parliament.
Hometown's highest honor already awarded
Feldkirchen-Westerham is not currently planning another honor for Aigner. She became an honorary citizen in 2024, and Zistl said there was no higher municipal distinction to award.
According to the mayor, only one resident at a time holds that title in the municipality.
Support and criticism in Berlin
The SPD and Greens have backed Aigner's candidacy. The Left, however, criticized how she was selected. Its parliamentary leader, Heidi Reichinnek, said a cross-party candidacy would have been more sensible and argued that passing the presidency between the Union parties and the SPD as a patronage post failed to do justice to the office.
On November 10, 2026, Aigner introduced herself to the CDU/CSU, SPD and Greens parliamentary groups in the Bundestag. No visit to the AfD group was planned. Her chief of staff, Markuse, explained that decision by citing AfD deputy leader Beatrix von Storch's description of the nomination as an indictment. Aigner was initially not expected to visit the Left parliamentary group either.
The vote and the handover
The 18th Bundesversammlung, or Federal Convention, will elect the president on January 30, 2027. Its 1,260 members comprise 630 Bundestag deputies and 630 delegates chosen by the 16 state parliaments. Winning in either of the first two rounds requires an absolute majority of 631 votes; a third round is decided by simple plurality.
BR24 reports that the CDU/CSU and SPD together control roughly 683 to 687 votes, about 50 more than the required majority. On that basis, Aigner's election is considered fairly certain.
Steinmeier's second term ends on March 18, 2027. If elected and she accepts, Aigner would become Germany's 13th head of state at midnight between March 18 and 19. Her ceremonial swearing-in before the Bundestag and Bundesrat would take place on March 19 or shortly afterward.
