Germany news: Presidential candidate Ilse Aigner to meet with parties in Bundestag, but not AfD or Linke

The presidential candidate put forward by the conservative bloc has said she won’t meet with the far-right AfD. Meanwhile, Chancellor Merz is set to host Hungarian Prime Minister Magyar. DW has more.

https://p.dw.com/p/5PHJYPrefer DW on Google

Ilse Aigner in front of a blue background
Aigner’s office said she would not meet with the far-right AfD party after one its top members called her nomination a ‘disgrace’Image: Odd Andersen/AFP

Skip next section What you need to know

What you need to know

  • Ilse Aigner is meeting with parties in the Bundestag after being nominated by Chancellor Friedrich Merz for the presidency
  • Merz is hosting his Hungarian counterpart Peter Magyar in Berlin

Keep reading for the latest news and analysis from Germany on Tuesday, November 10, 2026:

Skip next section Wadephul skeptical of Russia ahead of Abu Dhabi talks11/10/2026November 10, 2026

Wadephul skeptical of Russia ahead of Abu Dhabi talks

Wadephul speaking to the press at the G7 foreign ministers' meeting in Paris on November 9, 2026
Ukraine’s European partners are concerned the US will push a deal on Kyiv Image: Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa/picture alliance

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has expressed doubt over Russia’s willingness to genuinely enter into negotiation talks to end the war in Ukraine.

“Is Russia truly willing to negotiate?” he asked. Or, “is this just a negotiating charade intended to distract from the fact that Russia intends to continue a brutal war of aggression, particularly against the civilian population?”

His comments come as representatives from Ukraine and Russia began the first round of talks in nine months in Abu Dhabi. US and European representatives will also be present.

Russia “must finally give up its maximum demands,” Wadephul added on the sidelines of a G7 foreign ministers meeting.

Edited by:Kieran Burkehttps://p.dw.com/p/5PHOqSkip next section Aigner to meet with CDU/CSU, Greens and SPD in Bundestag11/10/2026November 10, 2026

Aigner to meet with CDU/CSU, Greens and SPD in Bundestag

The top candidate to replace Frank-Walter Steinmeier as Germany’s president, Ilse Aigner, is set to visit the Bundestag, where she will meet with the center-right CDU/CSU bloc, the Social Democrats and the Greens.

She has said she will not meet with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) after one of their top members called her nomination a “disgrace.” She also has not received an official invitation from the Left party.

Aigner was officially nominated by the CDU/CSU bloc, also known as the Union, on Monday, practically securing her future as German president. She already has support from the SPD and Greens.

The official vote will take place on January 30. The president is chosen by the Bundestag. Despite being the highest political office in the country, it is a largely ceremonial role.

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video


Edited by:Kieran Burkehttps://p.dw.com/p/5PHLqSkip next section Welcome to our coverage11/10/2026November 10, 2026

Welcome to our coverage

Guten Tag from a foggy autumnal Bonn.

The main events planned in Germany today include a visit by the top candidate for the German presidency, Ilse Aigner, to the German Bundestag, or parliament, to meet with political parties.

The other is a reception by Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar in Berlin.

These are both happening against the backdrop of the UN’s COP climate conference in Turkey and talks between Russian and Ukrainian negotiating teams in Abu Dhabi.

Edited by:Kieran Burkehttps://p.dw.com/p/5PHJvShow more posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

About the Author

Easy WordPress Websites Builder: Versatile Demos for Blogs, News, eCommerce and More – One-Click Import, No Coding! 1000+ Ready-made Templates for Stunning Newspaper, Magazine, Blog, and Publishing Websites.

BlockSpare — News, Magazine and Blog Addons for (Gutenberg) Block Editor

Search the Archives

Access over the years of investigative journalism and breaking reports