BERLIN: Bavarian politician Ilse Aigner is expected to become Germany’s next president in 2027, the first woman to serve as its head of state, conservative ruling party sources said on Friday.

Aigner, 61, now the speaker of the southern state’s regional assembly, would replace outgoing President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, a Social Democrat, in the largely ceremonial post.

Steinmeier, who took office in 2017, will reach the limit of two five-year terms in March next year.

Aigner belongs to the CSU, the Bavarian sister party of the centre-right CDU of Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who is supporting the choice of Aigner, the party sources said.

If her nomination is confirmed at a CDU/CSU meeting on Monday, she would be all but certain to be formally elected on Jan 30 by both houses of parliament and civil society representatives.

Aigner’s political appeal owes much to a trademark Bavarian warmth, and her appearances in a traditional dirndl dress at beer festivals have made her a familiar figure across the state.

Supporters see her consensual approach as an asset in an increasingly polarised country, where the far-right, anti-immigration and pro-Russian AfD party has reached record levels of popularity.

In a recent speech, Aigner called for a “reconciled society”, which could provide a guiding theme for a presidential role.

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2026