Constantin Schreiber Rejects Ilse Aigner's Presidential Nomination and Plans Alternative Proposal

Journalist Constantin Schreiber, who was elected by the Saxon state parliament as a delegate to the upcoming German Federal Assembly, announced on Friday that he opposes the potential presidency of CSU politician Ilse Aigner. Schreiber, who was nominated for the January 30 vote by the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), stated that he plans to put forward an alternative candidate from outside party politics.

Schreiber expressed his opposition to Aigner in a video published on YouTube and in comments posted on social media, arguing that the head of state should not function primarily as a party politician. Aigner, a former federal minister of agriculture, has emerged as the prospective candidate for the conservative alliance after the CDU leadership around Friedrich Merz signaled support for her nomination. In response, Schreiber indicated that he intends to consult with potential candidates from fields including science, medicine, law, culture, and business in the coming weeks.

Although nominated on the BSW state list in Saxony, Schreiber emphasized that he holds no political alignment with the party. The BSW parliamentary group leader in Saxony, Ronny Kupke, stated to the news agency dpa that the party placed Schreiber fourth on its candidate list to reflect a diversity of opinions and to encourage debate on controversial societal issues.

Schreiber outlined specific policy disagreements with BSW, particularly regarding foreign affairs and economic policy. He cited Germany's historical responsibility for Israel's security as a fundamental principle and rejected attempts to diminish Russian aggression against Ukraine through a more sympathetic stance toward Moscow. On economic matters, Schreiber reaffirmed his commitment to a social market economy based on free enterprise, competition, and personal responsibility.

The Federal Assembly is scheduled to meet on January 30 to elect the next German Federal President. Schreiber stated he will use the remaining time before the vote to determine whether a non-partisan candidate can be brought forward for consideration.

Written by Thorben Thiede thorben.thiede@alpineweekly.com